Reporting Elder Abuse Now Colorado Law

Boulder County honored in 2012 a credit union employee who contacted Longmont police when an 85-year-old customer reported $50,000 missing from an account.

That same year, a King Soopers employee in Lafayette also received the Elder Abuse and Prevention Award for warning a senior citizen who wanted to wire money that he likely was falling for a scam.

While those people voluntarily did the right thing, a new Colorado law requires employees and volunteers in a wide range of professions to report suspected elder abuse to police within 24 hours of witnessing the abuse or exploitation of someone who is 70 or older.

"We need the public's help to stop these types of crimes," Longmont Police Cmdr. Jeff Satur said.

In 2013, caseworkers from Adult Protective Services throughout Colorado responded to 11,539 reports of suspected abuse, said Liz McDonough, spokeswoman for the Department of Human Services. Because of the mandatory reporting law, the number of investigations is expected to increase 10 to 15 percent in the first year, she said.

Those who must report suspected elder abuse include medical professionals, social workers, court-appointed guardians, financial institution employees, care facility and home health care employees, and clergy, according to the law.

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Reporting Elder Abuse Now Colorado Law