Native communities are breaking the silence on elder abuse and mistreatment
Elder abuse and mistreatment are serious yet often hidden public health issues, with a true prevalence that is difficult to estimate. Many cases go unreported due to stigma, fear of making life more difficult for their abuser (often a relative or primary caretaker), fear of retaliation, or because elders may not recognize that what they are experiencing is a form of abuse.
Elder abuse can take many forms and often leads to lasting harm, including poor mental and physical health, social withdrawal, cognitive decline, and even premature death. Despite its severity, elder abuse has only recently gained attention as a research and funding priority. A 2009 study estimated that the field of elder abuse lags more than 20 years behind research on child abuse and intimate partner violence.
In Indian Country, this crisis is even more complex. Systemic inequities, geographic isolation, and historical trauma intersect to heighten Native elders’ vulnerability. We’ll examine what makes Native elders particularly vulnerable, why this issue has been overlooked for so long, and what can be done to protect and honor our aging relatives.
Elder abuse defined
Elder abuse refers to any intentional act — or failure to act — that causes harm or distress to an older adult. It can take many forms: physical abuse, emotional or psychological abuse, financial exploitation, sexual abuse, neglect, and abandonment. A somewhat more recent acknowledgment of note, especially in Native communities, is spiritual abuse, which includes causing harm to an elder’s spiritual well-being.
In many Native cultures, elders are deeply respected as keepers of knowledge, mentors, spiritual anchors, and protectors. Their well-being is closely tied to the health of the community and the preservation of cultural traditions. When elders experience abuse or mistreatment, the impact extends beyond the individual, undermining cultural lifeways and communal harmony. Because elders are held in such high esteem, these issues often remain hidden, making it difficult for individuals to acknowledge or confront the problem openly.
In Native communities, elder abuse is shaped by unique and compounding risk factors. According to the National Indian Council on Aging, Inc., rates of abuse of American Indian and Alaska Native elders are highest in families where income levels are extremely low, caregiver unemployment is high, or if the elder lives with their primary caregiver. These are all common realities in many reservation communities, where forced removal, generational poverty, and historical trauma have disrupted family structures and created deep systemic barriers.
Although specific statistics on Native elder abuse and mistreatment are limited (most available research focuses on Caucasian populations) there is a growing body of research, literature, and informed speculation about its root causes. Experts often link the rise in elder abuse among Native people to the erosion of traditional values and beliefs — largely a result of imposed Western culture and institutions. Each policy period of Indigenous history has contributed to the current crisis, reinforcing cycles of abuse that many experience and that continue to be passed from generation to generation. These systemic injustices lay the foundation for elder abuse and mistreatment within Native communities.
What’s being done to protect Native elders
Challenges associated with elder abuse and mistreatment are often rooted in broader systemic and intergenerational issues. Understanding these deeper causes can help us identify meaningful opportunities for prevention, intervention, and response.
In partnership with a tribe, we recently undertook a study to gain a deeper insight into the local context, challenges, and opportunities related to elder well-being. Over the course of a year, we conducted a community-engaged study to explore the landscape of elder abuse, its root causes, and pathways forward. Along the way, we consulted with an advisory council of elders who guided the project and helped ensure the work remained centered on the voices and values of those most impacted. During the study, we visited and engaged with 16 (of 20) communities, met with service providers, elders, tribal representatives, and other community members, as well as circulated community-wide surveys and conducted in-depth interviews. We also spoke with subject matter experts and other tribes to learn from their experiences and promising practices.
The outcomes were a comprehensive report and a 5-year strategic plan designed to support the development of a culturally rooted program to protect elders. Through this work, we identified strengths within the community to be leveraged in the effort. We also uncovered gaps in services, workforce and infrastructure shortages, and systemic barriers that require long-term investment and advocacy.
What became clear through our work is that solutions must be locally driven and culturally informed. Some of the most promising efforts we saw from the people we learned from include community-led education and outreach campaigns, elder councils that shape policy, and partnerships across tribal programs to coordinate care and support.
Unsurprisingly, the most effective programs and “best practices” share a common foundation in restorative justice. These initiatives go beyond punishment to focus on healing for all parties — elders, families, community members, and perpetrators. Through approaches rooted in empathy, education, community services, therapy, and culturally relevant practices, restorative justice efforts promote dialogue, accountability, and understanding. They aim not only to repair harm, but also rebuild trust and restore balance within the community.
Currently, many of our systems are still shaped by Western models of justice — models that often fail to meet the needs of those they are intended to serve, especially the needs of Native communities. These systems tend to prioritize punishment over healing and separation over restoration, two tactics that can cause more harm than help. By shifting the focus to restorative approaches, we can begin to address elder abuse and mistreatment in ways that are both effective and aligned with Indigenous values and practices.
Stigma surrounding elder abuse remains high,
allowing it to further thrive in secrecy.
Elder abuse is a critical but often overlooked issue — especially in Native communities, where deep strength and resilience persist despite the lasting impacts of colonization. Stigma surrounding elder abuse remains high, allowing it to further thrive in secrecy. Gaining a deeper understanding of the root causes — many of which are systemic and intergenerational but still unique to each community — opens the door to more meaningful opportunities for prevention, intervention, and healing. Solutions must be locally driven and culturally grounded, built on the knowledge and priorities of the communities themselves. Promising approaches include restorative justice models, elder advisory councils, and cross-program collaboration to strengthen care systems and promote accountability. Addressing elder abuse is an act of care, healing, and respect — a commitment to restoring balance, honoring cultural values, and ensuring elders live with the dignity and safety they deserve.
For more information, visit the National Indian Council on Aging, Inc. or The International Association for Indigenous Aging.
