Elder abuse: how to identify and report?
Verified 01 July 2024 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
Elder abuse manifests as gestures, words, actions, or omissions violating the rights, needs or health of the victim (e.g. beatings, bullying or lack of appropriate care). A specialized unit receives reports from victims or witnesses of abuse. In some cases, the competent administrative and/or judicial authorities must be alerted. We present you with the information you need to know.
The rules for reporting acts of ill-treatment differ according to the situation of the person who denounces these acts: victim, witness not subject to professional secrecy, witness bound to professional secrecy.
Victim
If you are an older person and experience abuse (physical, psychological, financial, etc.), you can talk to a trusted family member.
This could be a member of your family or close contacts (for example, your treating doctor, the nurse who cares for you, a social worker).
FYI
You can receive daily visits from your relatives (children, friends, etc.) if you consent. It is not necessary to notify the establishment in which you are staying.
You can also contact the National Platform for Reporting Abuse of Vulnerable Persons.
Who shall I contact
Abuse of the elderly and disabled - 3977
Listen, support and help for the elderly or disabled, for carers and for witnesses of abuse against them.
By telephone
3977
Open from Monday to Friday from 9am to 7pm and Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 7pm.
Free call and service
A specially trained agent will listen to you and give you advice on the steps to be taken.
In addition, they will forward your report to the unit responsible for collecting, monitoring and processing reports of abuse.
In order to guarantee your anonymity, you can use a nickname or ask not to be called back.
Witness
If you witness elder abuse, you have an obligation to report them.
The steps to take vary depending on where the older person resides.
Any act of abuse duty be reported to the National Platform for Reporting Abuse (3977).
If the abuse results in deprivation (e.g. of care, food), abuse or sexual assault, administrative and judicial authorities must be alerted.
In any case, you must provide these authorities with all the information about the abuse you have witnessed.
Report to 3977
As a witness to elder abuse, you must report to 3977.
Who shall I contact
Abuse of the elderly and disabled - 3977
Listen, support and help for the elderly or disabled, for carers and for witnesses of abuse against them.
By telephone
3977
Open from Monday to Friday from 9am to 7pm and Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 7pm.
Free call and service
A specially trained agent will listen to you and give you advice on the steps to be taken.
In addition, they will forward your report to the unit responsible for collecting, monitoring and processing reports of abuse.
Please note
In order to guarantee your anonymity, you can use a nickname or ask not to be called back.
Reporting to judicial and administrative authorities
If you are witnessing a situation of serious abuse (example: starvation, sexual assault), you must also alert the competent administrative authorities.
In case of emergency (immediate danger), you have an obligation to report to the judicial authorities.
General case
When the victim is in Ehpad or a nursing home, the competent administrative authorities are:
- The departmental council of the place where the establishment is located
- The regional health agency of the victim's place of residence
You can contact these 2 administrations by email, telephone or postal mail.
Your report leads to an investigation within the institution concerned. L'ARS: titleContent and the departmental council may ask the head of the establishment to put an end to the maltreatment observed.
A temporary or permanent closure of the structure may be envisaged.
Emergency (immediate danger)
Your report must be sent, by telephone or by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt, to the public prosecutor the place of the establishment where the abuse occurred.
It can also be done in writing, by telephone or on site at the police station or gendarmerie brigade of your choice.
Who shall I contact
Who shall I contact
Judicial authorities will take the necessary steps to end elder abuse.
Failure to report elder abuse that you have become aware of is punishable by 3 years imprisonment and €45,000 of fine.
FYI
If you witness physical abuse (e.g. beatings, sexual assault) and fail to assist the victim, you may be prosecuted for failure to assist a person in danger.
Any act of abuse duty be reported to the National Platform for Reporting Abuse (3977).
If the abuse results in deprivation (e.g. of care, food), abuse or sexual assault, administrative and judicial authorities must be alerted.
In any case, you must provide these authorities with all the information about the abuse you have witnessed.
Report to 3977
As a witness to elder abuse, you must report to 3977.
Who shall I contact
Abuse of the elderly and disabled - 3977
Listen, support and help for the elderly or disabled, for carers and for witnesses of abuse against them.
By telephone
3977
Open from Monday to Friday from 9am to 7pm and Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 7pm.
Free call and service
A specially trained agent will listen to you and give you advice on the steps to be taken.
In addition, they will forward your report to the unit responsible for collecting, monitoring and processing reports of abuse.
Please note
In order to guarantee your anonymity, you can use a nickname or ask not to be called back.
Reporting to judicial and administrative authorities
If you are witnessing a situation of serious abuse (example: starvation, sexual assault), you must alert the competent administrative authorities.
In case of emergency (immediate danger), you have an obligation to report to the judicial authorities.
General case
When the victim lives at home or with a relative, the competent administrative authorities are:
- The departmental council of the place where the establishment is located
- The regional health agency of the victim's place of residence
You can contact these 2 administrations by email, telephone or postal mail.
Your report leads to an investigation within the institution concerned. L'ARS: titleContent and the departmental council may ask the head of the establishment to put an end to the maltreatment observed.
A temporary or permanent closure of the structure may be envisaged.
Emergency (immediate danger)
Your report must be sent, by telephone or by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt, to the public prosecutor the place of the establishment where the abuse occurred.
It can also be done in writing, by telephone or on site at the police station or gendarmerie brigade of your choice.
Who shall I contact
Who shall I contact
Judicial authorities will take the necessary steps to end elder abuse.
Failure to report elder abuse that you have become aware of is punishable by 3 years imprisonment and €45,000 of fine.
FYI
If you witness physical abuse (e.g. beatings, sexual assault) and fail to assist the victim, you may be prosecuted for failure to assist a person in danger.
Any act of abuse duty be reported to the National Platform for Reporting Abuse (3977).
If the abuse results in deprivation (e.g. of care, food), ill-treatment or sexual assault, administrative and judicial authorities must be alerted.
In any case, you must provide these authorities with all the information about the abuse you have witnessed.
Report to 3977
As a witness to elder abuse, you must report to 3977.
Who shall I contact
Abuse of the elderly and disabled - 3977
Listen, support and help for the elderly or disabled, for carers and for witnesses of abuse against them.
By telephone
3977
Open from Monday to Friday from 9am to 7pm and Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 7pm.
Free call and service
A specially trained officer will listen to you and give you advice on how to stop the abuse.
In addition, they will forward your report to the unit responsible for collecting, monitoring and processing reports of abuse.
Please note
In order to guarantee your anonymity, you can use a nickname or ask not to be called back.
Reporting to judicial and administrative authorities
If you are in a situation of serious abuse (e.g. starvation, sexual assault), you must alert the competent administrative authority.
In case of emergency (immediate danger), you have an obligation to report to the judicial authorities.
General case
When the victim is in the hospital, cases of abuse should be reported directly to the hospitalARS: titleContent the place of residence of the elderly person.
Who shall I contact
You can report a case of abuse by email, phone or mail.
Your report leads to an investigation within the institution concerned. L'ARS: titleContent may ask the person responsible for the establishment to put an end to the abuse observed.
A temporary or permanent closure of the structure may be envisaged.
Emergency (immediate danger)
Your report must be sent, by telephone or by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt, to the public prosecutor the place of the establishment where the abuse occurred.
It can also be done in writing, by telephone or on site at the police station or gendarmerie brigade of your choice.
Who shall I contact
Who shall I contact
Judicial authorities will take the necessary steps to end elder abuse.
Failure to report elder abuse that you have become aware of is punishable by 3 years imprisonment and €45,000 of fine.
FYI
If you witness physical abuse and fail to assist the victim (by any means), you may be prosecuted for failure to assist a person in danger.
Witness bound by professional secrecy
Health, social or medico-social professionals (e.g. doctor, nurse, social worker) are bound by professional secrecy.
However, if you witness elder abuse, you can make an alert to the medical, administrative and judicial authorities.
If there is a serious and immediate danger to the elderly (example: life-threatening), you must make this report. If you don't, you can be sued for failure to assist a person in danger.
Ways to report abuse differ depending on where the victim lives.
If you witness elder abuse, you can report them to the national platform for reporting abuse of vulnerable persons (3977).
You can also alert the competent administrative and judicial authorities.
Abuse may manifest as the following:
- Deprivation (e.g. of care, food)
- Physical, psychological, or sexual abuse (for example, beatings, humiliation)
- One sexual assault
Report to 3977
As a witness to elder abuse, you can report to the 3977.
Who shall I contact
Abuse of the elderly and disabled - 3977
Listen, support and help for the elderly or disabled, for carers and for witnesses of abuse against them.
By telephone
3977
Open from Monday to Friday from 9am to 7pm and Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 7pm.
Free call and service
A specially trained officer will listen to you and give you advice on how to stop the abuse.
In addition, they will forward your report to the unit responsible for collecting, monitoring and processing reports of abuse.
Please note
In order to guarantee your anonymity, you can use a nickname or ask not to be called back.
Reporting to judicial and administrative authorities
If you witness a situation of abuse, you can alert the competent administrative authority.
In case of emergency (immediate danger), you you can also contact the judicial authorities.
You must provide them with any information you know about abuse.
FYI
To make this report, you must obtain the consent of the victim.
General case
Where the victim resides in Ehpad or a retirement home, the competent administrative authority is the departmental council of the place where the establishment is located.
Your report leads to an investigation within the institution concerned. The county council may ask the head of the establishment to put an end to the maltreatment observed.
A temporary or permanent closure of the structure may be envisaged.
Emergency (immediate danger)
Your report must be sent, by telephone or by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt, to the public prosecutor the place of the establishment where the abuse occurred.
It can also be done in writing, by telephone or on site at the police station or gendarmerie brigade of your choice.
Who shall I contact
Who shall I contact
Judicial authorities will take the necessary steps to end elder abuse.
FYI
Whether you are an employee or a public official, your civil liability cannot be hired if you have reported a case of elder abuse.
In the event of a breach of your employment contract, you can to refer the matter to the labor council.
If you witness elder abuse, you can report them to the national platform for reporting abuse of vulnerable persons (3977).
You can also alert the competent administrative and judicial authorities.
Abuse may manifest as the following:
- Deprivation (e.g. of care, food)
- Physical, psychological, or sexual abuse (for example, beatings, humiliation)
- One sexual assault
Report to 3977
As a witness to elder abuse, you can report to the 3977.
Who shall I contact
Abuse of the elderly and disabled - 3977
Listen, support and help for the elderly or disabled, for carers and for witnesses of abuse against them.
By telephone
3977
Open from Monday to Friday from 9am to 7pm and Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 7pm.
Free call and service
A specially trained officer will listen to you and give you advice on how to stop the abuse.
In addition, they will forward your report to the unit responsible for collecting, monitoring and processing reports of abuse.
Please note
In order to guarantee your anonymity, you can use a nickname or ask not to be called back.
Reporting to judicial and administrative authorities
If you witness a situation of abuse, you can alert the competent administrative authority.
In case of emergency (immediate danger), you you can also contact the judicial authorities.
You must provide them with any information you know about abuse.
FYI
To make this report, you must obtain the consent of the victim.
General case
Where the victim is at home or with a relative, the competent administrative authority shall be the departmental council of the place in which the establishment is located.
Your report leads to an investigation within the institution concerned. The county council may ask the head of the establishment to put an end to the maltreatment observed.
A temporary or permanent closure of the structure may be envisaged.
Emergency (immediate danger)
Your report must be sent, by telephone or by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt, to the public prosecutor the place of the establishment where the abuse occurred.
It can also be done in writing, by telephone or on site at the police station or gendarmerie brigade of your choice.
Who shall I contact
Who shall I contact
Judicial authorities will take the necessary steps to end elder abuse.
FYI
Whether you are an employee or a public official, your civil liability cannot be hired if you have reported a case of elder abuse.
In the event of a breach of your employment contract, you can to refer the matter to the labor council.
If you witness elder abuse, you can report them to the national platform for reporting abuse of vulnerable persons (3977).
You can also alert the appropriate administrative and judicial authorities.
Abuse may manifest as the following:
- Deprivation (e.g. of care, food)
- Physical, psychological, or sexual abuse (for example, beatings, humiliation)
- One sexual assault
Report to 3977
As a witness to elder abuse, you can report to the 3977.
Who shall I contact
Abuse of the elderly and disabled - 3977
Listen, support and help for the elderly or disabled, for carers and for witnesses of abuse against them.
By telephone
3977
Open from Monday to Friday from 9am to 7pm and Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 7pm.
Free call and service
A specially trained officer will listen to you and give you advice on how to stop the abuse.
In addition, they will forward your report to the unit responsible for collecting, monitoring and processing reports of abuse.
Please note
In order to guarantee your anonymity, you can use a nickname or ask not to be called back.
Reporting to judicial and administrative authorities
If you witness a situation of abuse, you can alert the competent administrative authority.
In case of emergency (immediate danger), you you can also contact the judicial authorities.
You must provide them with any information you know about abuse.
FYI
To make this report, you must obtain the consent of the victim.
General case
Where the victim is in the hospital, the competent administrative authority shall be the departmental council of the place in which the hospital is located.
Your report leads to an investigation within the institution concerned. The county council may ask the head of the establishment to put an end to the maltreatment observed.
A temporary or permanent closure of the structure may be envisaged.
Emergency (immediate danger)
Your report must be sent, by telephone or by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt, to the public prosecutor the place of the establishment where the abuse occurred.
It can also be done in writing, by telephone or on site at the police station or gendarmerie brigade of your choice.
Who shall I contact
Who shall I contact
Judicial authorities will take the necessary steps to end elder abuse.
FYI
Whether you are an employee or a public official, your civil liability cannot be hired if you have reported a case of elder abuse.
In the event of a breach of your employment contract, you can to refer the matter to the labor council.
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
Abuse of the elderly and disabled - 3977
Listen, support and help for the elderly or disabled, for carers and for witnesses of abuse against them.
By telephone
3977
Open from Monday to Friday from 9am to 7pm and Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 7pm.
Free call and service
Rights of persons hospitalized or in retirement homes
Reporting abuse
Reporting of deprivation, abuse and sexual assault
Derogations from the obligation of professional secrecy
Protecting officers who report abuse in nursing homes or hospitals
Failure to assist a person in danger
National Solidarity Fund for Autonomy (CNSA)