Staff Reports | Community Updates
In Arizona, reports of abuse and neglect in long-term care are rising steeply while families remain unsure about what red flags to watch for.
According to the Arizona Department of Economic Security’s Adult Protective Services, Maricopa County received more than 17,500 elder abuse reports in fiscal year 2023 — a 19% jump from the previous year.
National studies estimate the real number could be far higher, because only about 1 in 14 cases is ever reported, according to a press release.
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has created an Elder Affairs division at the state level to focus on protecting our state’s seniors, the release states.
“Elder abuse is often quiet, hidden behind routine care and polite conversation,” said Martin Solomon, founding attorney at Solomon & Relihan, a Phoenix-based law firm focused exclusively on elder abuse and nursing home neglect.
“It doesn’t come with alarms—it comes with silence, subtle changes, and missed details.”
Families often second-guess themselves, hesitant to accuse trusted staff or speak out when something feels “off.”
Danielle Solomon, Martin’s daughter who practices law with him, says trust those instincts.
“Don’t wait for absolute proof,” Ms. Solomon said. “Ask questions. Trust your observations. Abuse does not start with bruises; it starts with silence, withdrawal, dehydration, or confusion.
The Solomons published a book to help families navigate the complicated world of nursing homes and elder care facilities. The Nursing Home Survival Guide: Getting Better Care in Arizona’s Nursing Homes suggests watching for these warning signs:
• Physical changes such as unexplained bruises, pressure sores, recurring infections
• Neglect or poor hygiene such as dirty clothes, unchanged linens, uncombed hair
• Behavioral withdrawal. For example, a family member is suddenly silent, reluctant to speak around staff, or isolating from others.
While public concern about elder care has grown post-pandemic, systemic abuse and neglect remain underreported and often under-prosecuted. In Arizona, the total number of elder abuse cases has increased more than 150% over the past decade — and yet, the public conversation has not kept pace.
“Elder abuse isn’t just a personal tragedy — it’s a public health issue,” Mr. Solomon said. “If we ignore it, we allow it to grow.”
