Definitions of Types of Elder Abuse ( from Texas Human Resources Code, Section 48.002) Abuse is (A) the neglect or willful infliction of injury, unreasonable confinement, intimidation, or cruel punishment of an elderly or disabled person with resulting physical or emotional harm or pain, or (B) sexual abuse, including any involuntary or nonconsensual sexual conduct that would constitute an offense under Section 21.08, Penal Code (indecent exposure) or Chapter 22, Penal Code (assaultive offenses), committed by the person’s caretaker, family member, or other individual who has an ongoing relationship with the person." Exploitation is " the illegal or improper act or process of a caretaker, family member, or other individual who has an ongoing relationship with the elderly or disabled person for monetary or personal benefit, profit, or gain without the informed consent of the elderly or disabled person." Neglect is " the failure to provide for one’s self the goods or services, including medical services, which are necessary to avoid physical or emotional harm or pain or the failure of a caretaker to provide such goods or services." Incidence of Elder Abuse A National Elder Abuse Incidence Study conducted in 1996 found the following: · At least one-half million older persons in domestic settings were abused and/or neglected, or experienced self-neglect during 1996; · For every reported incident of elder abuse, neglect or self-neglect, approximately five go unreported; · Almost four times as many new incidents of abuse, neglect, and/or self-neglect were not reported as those that were reported to substantiated by adult protective service agencies; · The nation’s oldest elders (80 years and older) are abused and neglected at two to three times their proportion of the older population; and · In almost 90 percent of the elder abuse and neglect incidents with known perpetrator, the perpetrator is a family member, and two-thirds of the perpetrators are adult children or spouses.     (http://www.aoa.gov) Incidence of Elder Abuse in Texas · In the last decade, the number of in-home cases investigated by Adult Protective   Services has increased more than 145 percent. · In Fiscal Year 1999, Adult Protective Services completed 54,478 investigations of abuse, neglect, or exploitation involving adults living at home (in private non-institutional settings). Of these, 35,291 were confirmed. · More than 73 percent of all cases of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of adults living at home involve neglect, often self-neglect. (Http://www.tdprs.state.txus/Not_Forgetten/2Factsaboutabuse/NotForgotWeb-3.html)