Massachusetts law requires mandated reporters to report suspected abuse to the Elder Protective Services program. Elder Protective Services can only investigate cases of abuse where the person is age 60 and over and lives in the community.
Elder abuse includes: physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, caretaker neglect, financial exploitation and self-neglect.
Mandated reporters who fail to report elder abuse may be subject to a fine.
Mandated reporter information
Mandated reporters can report suspected elder abuse over the phone or online.
If a mandated reporter makes a verbal report over the phone, they must submit an Elder Abuse Mandated Reporter Form to the local Protective Services agency within 48 hours. Mandated reporters are not required to submit the form if they report suspected abuse online.
Mandated reporters are:
- Physicians
- Physician assistants
- Nurses
- Medical interns
- Coroners
- Dentists
- Podiatrists
- Osteopaths
- Social workers
- Occupational therapists
- Physical therapists
- Psychologists
- Family counselors
- Police
- Probation officers
- EMTs
- Firefighters
- Director of a home health aide agency
- Homemaker agency
- Assisted living residence
- Case managers
- Health Aides
- Homemakers
- Council on aging directors
- Outreach workers
Additional Resources
Contact for Who is a mandated reporter of elder abuse?
Phone
Call Specialist available Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (interpreter services are available in 100+ languages)