Elder Abuse Victims

If you or a loved one is a victim of physical abuse or neglect, we can give advice and, in some cases, take the abusers to court.

 

The Attorney General's Medicaid Investigations Unit prosecutes fraud, patient abuse and embezzlement in Medicaid-funded facilities.

 

 

North Carolina law protects disabled adults of any age from abuse, neglect and exploitation. The law states that "any person having reasonable cause to believe that a disabled adult is in need of protective services shall report such information." Definitions are:

 

Abuse – willful infliction of physical pain, injury or mental anguish, unreasonable confinement, or the willful deprivation by a caretaker of services necessary to maintain mental and physical health.

 

Neglect – a disabled adult who is either living alone and not able to provide for himself the services necessary to maintain his mental or physical health or is not receiving services from his caretaker.

 

Exploitation – illegal or improper use of a disabled adult or his resources for another's profit or advantage.

 

 

You should report abuse to your local Department of Social Services in the county where the disabled adult lives.

 

For additional help, call the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services CARE-LINE toll free within North Carolina at 1-800-662-7030.

 

If you have questions about the laws that protect senior citizens or your legal rights as a senior citizen, contact our Victims and Citizens Services experts at (919) 716-6780 or vcs@ncdoj.gov.