Market reference note: This article covers information from both Korea and the United States. Each item is labeled 🇰🇷 Korea or 🇺🇸 U.S. in the text to indicate which country it applies to.
If your parent has suddenly become quieter, developed unexplained bruises, or seems more withdrawn than usual, you may have found yourself wondering, even briefly, whether abuse could be involved. Many caregivers quickly push that thought aside. Surely a family member — or a care facility worker — would never do such a thing. Yet the statistics present a reality that is hard to look away from.
🇰🇷 Korea According to the '2024 노인학대 현황보고서 (2024 Elder Abuse Status Report)' published in June 2025 by the 보건복지부 (Ministry of Health and Welfare) and the 중앙노인보호전문기관 (Central Elder Protection Agency), a total of 22,746 abuse-related reports were received in 2024 by the 38 지역노인보호전문기관 (regional elder protection agencies) across the country, of which 7,167 cases were confirmed as actual abuse. The number of confirmed abuse cases rose 14.5% over four years, from 6,259 in 2020. The '2025 노인학대 현황보고서 (2025 Elder Abuse Status Report),' released in May 2026, recorded 26,578 reports — a further 16.8% increase over the previous year and the highest figure ever. Part of this rise reflects growing social awareness, but it also signals that the actual harm is spreading.
🇺🇸 U.S. According to the U.S. 질병통제예방센터 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC), approximately 1 in 10 older adults living at home experience abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation. Reporting rates are notably low: research estimates that only 1 in 24 actual abuse cases is ever reported to authorities. The main reasons victims hesitate to report are fear of losing the relationship with a family caregiver who is also the abuser, and fear of retaliation.
🇰🇷 Korea Abuse does not come from far away. Among the confirmed abuse cases in 2024, 88.2% occurred in the home. Of perpetrators, 38.7% were spouses and 26.4% were sons. The 2025 data show the share of abuse committed by spouses rising further to 39.4%. The 보건복지부 (Ministry of Health and Welfare) attributes this trend in part to the growing number of elderly couples living together, where a spouse who has been shouldering long-term caregiving responsibilities alone reaches a breaking point. Victims were female in 76.6% of cases, and more than half of all victims were aged 75 or older.
🇺🇸 U.S. The pattern of abuse varies by country. In the United States, financial exploitation accounts for the largest share of reports received by 성인보호서비스 (Adult Protective Services, APS). The financial losses suffered by older adults are estimated at more than 2.6 billion dollars per year, and in many cases the harm is caused not by unknown scammers but by trusted family members or acquaintances. 🇰🇷 Korea In Korea, physical abuse and emotional abuse each account for roughly 43% of confirmed cases.
🇰🇷 Korea If abuse is suspected or confirmed, a report can be made to the 노인보호전문기관 (Elder Protection Agency) by calling 1577-1389. The line operates 24 hours a day, anyone can call, and anonymous reports are accepted. After a report is received, an on-site investigation and case determination are conducted. When abuse is confirmed, the victim can be separated from the perpetrator and placed in a '학대피해노인 전용쉼터 (dedicated shelter for elder abuse victims)' for up to 4 months (with a maximum of 6 months per year). The shelter provides accommodation and meals along with professional psychological counseling and healing programs. To prevent re-abuse, the 보건복지부 (Ministry of Health and Welfare) is also expanding a continuous follow-up monitoring system using AI automated calls and ICT monitoring devices. Abuse can also be reported and guidance obtained through the smartphone app '나비새김.'
🇺🇸 U.S. In the United States, each state's 성인보호서비스 (Adult Protective Services, APS) receives and investigates reports of elder abuse. APS is a state and local government social services agency that supports older adults and people with disabilities who have experienced abuse, neglect, self-neglect, or financial exploitation, and it operates in every state. For non-emergency situations, you can find the nearest agency through eldercare.acl.gov or the Eldercare Locator (1-800-677-1116). If there is an immediate danger, call 911 directly. Financial harm can also be reported to the state attorney general's office. Many states designate healthcare workers, nursing facility staff, social workers, and others as Mandatory Reporters, legally requiring them to report abuse when they discover it.
Knowing the warning signs is the most important form of prevention. Key signals include unexplained bruises or injuries, sudden withdrawal or anxiety, unusual changes in financial situation, failure to provide necessary medications or food on time, and noticeably deferential or nervous behavior in the presence of a specific person. For caregivers watching over a parent from a distance, noticing these changes during regular video calls is a critical first step. Do not dismiss a feeling that something seems off.
Sources: 보건복지부·중앙노인보호전문기관 '2024 노인학대 현황보고서' (June 2025); 보건복지부·중앙노인보호전문기관 '2025 노인학대 현황보고서' (May 2026); Press materials from the office of Representative 한병도, 더불어민주당, for the 2025 국정감사 (materials submitted by the National Police Agency, September 2025); 찾기쉬운 생활법령정보 elder abuse section (as of August 2026); U.S. CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) elder abuse overview page; U.S. ACL (Administration for Community Living) Adult Protective Services guidance; National Council on Aging (NCOA) elder abuse statistics; U.S. 소비자금융보호국 (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, CFPB) Korean-language guidance materials.
Sierra Care Advisor is here to help Korean-American family caregivers who are concerned about a parent's safety make full use of the reporting procedures and support resources available in both Korea and the United States.
Note: This article was compiled by AI from the sources cited above. We strive for accuracy, but for decisions about your specific situation, please confirm the latest guidance from a professional or the relevant agency.