Maybe there were signs, in hindsight.

James Michael Peters often raised his voice and yelled at his mother during “tantrums,” so loud neighbors could hear. Margaret Peters had become increasingly reliant on her son and he’d started refusing to take her places or pick her up, according to her brother.

Experts say signs of elderly abuse can range from pushing and hitting to giving the wrong medication or neglect.

“Not everybody knows about every program in our area. That’s part of our mission, to educate people so they know who to call if they’re afraid,” said Phoebe Lowell, director of the SEARCH program, a senior service. “The woman who was killed may or may not have known where to get help, we’ll never know.”

Maine has five elder abuse task forces; the newest formed in Androscoggin County in late 2006.

Lowell sits on it, as do representatives from Lewiston and Auburn police, both cities’ housing authorities, Androscoggin Home Care and Hospice, Abused Women’s Advocacy Program and others.

That broad interest speaks to it becoming a community issue, said Karen Elliott, director of the adult protective services program at the Department of Health and Human Services.

From July 2005 to June 2006, their elder abuse hotline took 12,000 calls. At the start of this year, the hotline was on pace to receive 16,000, a substantial jump.

Elliott said a “great number” of calls turn out to be people concerned someone is letting themselves go, or self-neglect. When another person is involved in the abuse, it’s more often a family member or caregiver.

In Androscoggin County, 172 complaints were investigated last year. There are 25 open investigations right now, DHHS spokesman John Martins said.

He couldn’t comment on whether DHHS had ever had a complaint at the Peters’ address.

One of the first items the local task force took up was lobbying the Legislature for three more DHHS staffers to investigate abuse. The money didn’t come.

Up next is identifying safe homes for elderly victims who need to leave.

Groups across Maine will plan events around Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15, Elliot said.

“When situations like this happen, that’s when the news comes out and that’s when we talk about it. We also need to spend time talking when there isn’t a hot issue.”

Dialing for help

Maine elder abuse hotline 1-800-624-8404

Maine mental health hotline 1-888-568-1112

National Alliance on Mental Illness Maine helpline (for questions, referrals, general information) 1-800-464-5767