ELDER ABUSE PROGRAM
Prairie Council on Aging (PCOA) investigates reports of abuse, neglect or financial exploitation of people age 60 and older. PCOA serves as an advocate for victims and works with abusers to alleviate abuse. We also counsel older battered individuals. PCOA can offer intensive counseling, support and advocacy for older victims of domestic violence. We assist seniors in Morgan, Cass, Scott, Greene and Jersey Counties.
DEFINING ELDER ABUSE Physical - means inflicting pain and injury to someone over 60 yrs. old Sexual - touching, fondling or any other sexual activity with an older person, when the person cannot understand, unwilling to consent, threatened or physically forced. Emotional - verbal assaults, threats, harassment or intimidation. Emotional abuse is often coupled with other forms of abuse. Confinement - restraining or isolating an older person. Passive Neglect - the caregiver's failure to provide an older person with life's necessities, including, but not limited to, food, clothing, shelter or medical care. Willful Deprivation - willing denying an older person medication, medical care, shelter, food, a theraputic device or other physical assistance, and therby exposing that person to the risk of physical, mental, or emotional harm - except when the dependent person, who is capable of making reasoned decisions has expressed an intent to forego such care. Financial Explotation - misuse or withholding of an older person's resources by another, to the disadvantage of the elderly person and/or the profit or advantage of someone else. HOW TO REPORT ELDER ABUSE ALL REPORTS ARE ANONYMOUS The Elder Abuse and Neglect Act provide extensive protections to all reporters. Anyone who makes an elder abuse report in good faith is exempt from civil or criminal liability. A reporter's name cannot be released without written consent or by court order. Call 24/7 the Illinois Department on Aging Hotline 1-866-800-1409 OR call the local office of Prairie Council on Aging 1-800-862-4464 The Prairie Council on Aging's, Elder Abuse Program follows the Elder Abuse Act and is funded by the Illinois Department on Aging, Area Agency of Aging, Lincolnland, Attorney General, and Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority grants. | 
