structural:summarization, stylistic:tone, structural:scholar_edition
Increase of Elder Abuse in the United States

Financial stress is another factor leading to an increased rate of abuse and exploitation amongst the elderly. With an ever-climbing cost of living and an uncertain future for those receiving social security, financial difficulties are undoubtedly going to continue to be a serious problem for these older generations. Social Security is a vital form of financial support for retirees, accounting for “half of the household income for adults aged 62 and older, according to the U.S. Census. But it is under threat, with the Social Security Administration making a statement that funds are expected to “be exhausted” by 2037 if drastic action isn't taken soon. This is all quite dire for a population of vulnerable adults who may have physical and mental limitations that prevent them from working and receiving income. More than that, retirement was once seen as a human right for working adults over the age of 60. The National Council of Aging also states that the cost of living adjustment for Social Security benefits “is nowhere near enough to allow older adults to afford their true cost of living." and that the poverty rate amongst seniors was as high as 14% in 2023. This is all quite alarming considering that the monthly media n cost of nursing home care was $8,669 for a shared room and $9,733 for a private room according to the NCOA (Person, 2025.) In 2022 only 15% of single adults aged 75 or older could even afford the costs of housing and long-term care, even though 70% of adults ages 65 and older will require long term care services at some point. With poverty being a risk factor for elder abuse, it is almost certain that these economic strains will only lead to more likelihood of elder abuse. Without the government's help, many elderly people will have to depend on family members for support, putting an even greater strain on family relations and their finances. In a survey of caregivers done in California, 44.4% of California's estimated 6.7 million adult caregivers reported experiencing some level of financial stress in 2020, with 1 in 5 reporting “extreme financial stress." Given as we know that the majority of abuse cases in the aged are caused by family members, these statistics are not too comforting caregivers. Therefore, we can see that the future economic situation is going to be a catalyst for further abuse of the elderly and unsafe living conditions.