How to Report Elderly Abuse in South Carolina

Elder abuse occurs in both homes and paid care facilities. It can be physical, where the senior is hit or otherwise harmed, sexual abuse or it can be emotional, involving such tactics as bullying, yelling or otherwise frightening or intimidating the older person. At least 500,000 new cases of the abuse of elderly people are reported in the United States every year, and it is estimated that millions more people are abused but the abuse is never reported. If you suspect any type of elder abuse, report it immediately to the proper authorities.

Instructions

• 1

  Determine what county the elderly person lives in. The elder care services in South Carolina are handled individually by each county. If you feel that the person is in immediate danger, use the 911 system to report the problem.

• 2

  Go to the South Carolina Department of Social Services Website DSS.sc.gov. Locate the Hotlines section on the page. Select the county of residence for the elder in question from the drop-down menu. When you click on the county name, it will take you to the appropriate page.

• 3

  Locate the appropriate reporting information on the county website. Each county's page is different, so while one site may have a direct link to the person who handles reports of elder abuse, another county may only have a generic contact phone number for the main office. If you aren't sure who to talk to, call the main number for that county and you will be directed to the appropriate person.

• 4

  Give a complete report as to where the elderly person is, what is going on, how she is being harmed and who is doing it. They will ask you for your name and contact information as well, but this is kept confidential and will not be given to the party you are reporting.

• 5

  Follow up on the case after allowing some time for the case to be assigned to a worker and action to be taken. Call the office and check to see what action is being taken. This helps to make sure your report doesn't accidentally slip through the cracks.