FARMINGTON — World Elder Abuse Awareness Day was observed Tuesday with a panel discussion hosted by Safe Voices at Franklin Memorial Hospital.

People 60 and older can face abuse physically, sexually, emotionally and financially, and by neglect, Jessica Dorr, community educator for Safe Voices told the small group gathered.

Dorr joined Farmington police Detective Marc Bowering and Lauri Preo, case investigator for Adult Protective Services, to answer questions and bring awareness of the issue.

According to the state’s Attorney General, 12,000 cases of elder abuse are reported each year in Maine, but that figure is probably low because of the number of cases not reported, Dorr said. The majority of abuse is from family members and many elders don’t report it because they consider it is “family business.”  They don’t want to see family members facing legal charges, Dorr said.

People “can capitalize on an elder’s fear of being alone or institutionalized,” she said.

Locally, police see elderly being victims of prescription theft, scams and theft of finances, Bowering said. The use of several prescriptions by the elderly can provide opportunities  for people to take whatever they can find while they expect a grandparent to go without their medication, he said.

Use of the Internet provides access to information used in financial scams such as a call from Canada to a grandparent stating a grandson is in jail and needs bail money sent via Western Union.

Another issue concerns wills being changed and savings accounts depleted by people with power of attorney, he said. Both the police and Adult Protective Services investigate reports of abuse, first assessing the validity of the allegation.

Those who suspect abuse should make a report, Preo said. All reports are confidential. Reports can be made to the Protective Service at 1-800-624-8404.

Police respond to a complaint with an “unannounced” visit to see what’s going on, and they look for physical marks, bruising, malnutrition or anything out of the ordinary, Bowering said.

Red flags for physical abuse include bruises, burns, rope marks or continuing injuries, while malnutrition, dehydration or lack of medication can indicate neglect, Dorr said.

Emotional abuse or being hollered or sworn at, told that no one cares or the elderly person will be institutionalized can bring signs of depression and changes in normal activities.

A loss of property or the inability to afford necessities can signal financial abuse. Police are sometimes alerted by banks to accounts that have been drained and not by the elderly person, Bowering said.

Transition housing for victims of elder abuse is available in Maine for those who need to regain their independence and heal, Dorr said. “Isolation is a big factor in abuse,” she said, while explaining what communities can do.

Sometimes a person delivering a meal is the only contact with the outside world for an elder.  Neighbors and faith communities can be big assets by making calls and visits to make sure they’re doing OK, she said.

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