Recognizing and Reporting Elder Abuse in Sacramento County
Elder abuse and neglect can be hard to spot, and families often second-guess themselves before reporting. If something feels wrong, it’s always appropriate to make the call and let a trained investigator sort out what’s going on.
Signs to watch for
- Financial abuse: unexplained withdrawals or transfers, missing belongings, new “friends” who suddenly control money or property, unpaid bills despite adequate income, or sudden changes to a will or power of attorney.
- Physical abuse or neglect: unexplained bruises, injuries, or weight loss; poor hygiene; untreated medical conditions; a caregiver who won’t allow private visits.
- Emotional abuse: a caregiver who belittles, threatens, or isolates the person; a person who becomes withdrawn, fearful, or anxious around a specific caregiver.
You don’t need proof to report — you need a reasonable concern. Trained investigators are the ones who determine what happened.
Common scams targeting seniors
Financial exploitation often looks like a scam before it looks like abuse. Common patterns: a “grandchild in trouble” calling or texting urgently for money; a romance that develops quickly online and moves to requests for money or gift cards; a fake tech-support pop-up demanding remote computer access; and an unsolicited caller claiming to be from the IRS, Medicare, or a bank, pressuring for immediate payment or account information. The common thread is urgency and secrecy — a legitimate caller won’t pressure someone to act immediately or ask them not to tell family.
Sacramento County Adult Protective Services
24/7 reporting line: (916) 874-9377
Administered by the Department of Child, Family and Adult Services (DCFAS), Senior and Adult Services division. Non-emergency online reporting is also available at reporttoaps.org.
For nursing-home or assisted-living-specific concerns
CANHR (California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform) is a statewide nonprofit consumer hotline for nursing-home and RCFE-specific concerns: (800) 474-1116, canhr.org.
If someone is in immediate danger
Call 911 first. Report to APS or CANHR afterward.
This is general information, not legal advice. If you suspect abuse or neglect, contact Adult Protective Services or law enforcement directly — see also our full local resources directory.