Hollywood Legend Mickey Rooney appeared before Congress recently to talk about the alleged abuse he says he suffered at the hands of his step son.
Elder abuse impacts more than 3.5 million senior citizens each year.
The mistreatment of seniors like Rooney happens in many forms; physical, mental, financial, emotional and sexual.
Joyce Derenzy from the Center for Prevention of Abuse says under-reporting of elderly abuse is huge, even though last year, ten-thousand new reports were made in Illinois.
Derenzy says, surprisingly, physical abuse and passive neglect are not the leading types of abuse of seniors.
"Hands down the number one allegation we see is financial exploitation and that's not just here in central Illinois," says Derenzy. "That's really across the states and that really is just someone that is using the senior's finances or assets to their good and to the detriment of the senior."
Derenzy says 80 percent of the abuse is committed by a family member or loved one. If you think someone you know is being abused, contact the Center For Prevention of Abuse at 1-866-800-1409.
Your identity will be kept confidential.
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