State warns of rising elder abuse allegations, urges vigilance

A suspicious bruise, a pile of unpaid bills or a scared older relative can be the first clue that something is wrong. In New Mexico, those concerns can be reported any time to Adult Protective Services at 1-866-654-3219, where staff take calls 24 hours a day and caseworkers can respond with home visits, assessments and steps to address immediate safety needs.

State officials said the warning matters in places like Gallup and Zuni Pueblo, where many elders are cared for at home and may be isolated by distance, poverty or dependence on a caregiver. APS said it had already received about 18,000 allegations of elder abuse, neglect and exploitation in 2026 as of June 16. Officials stressed that the number reflects reports and concerns, not proven crimes, but it shows how often harm is being raised to the state.

The department said elder abuse can take many forms, including physical abuse, emotional abuse, neglect, abandonment, financial exploitation and scams such as fraudulent phone calls, impersonation schemes and romance scams. Its warning-sign list includes unexplained injuries, sudden behavior changes, withdrawal from social activity, poor hygiene, malnutrition, unsafe living conditions, sudden financial changes, fearfulness around caregivers or family members, and lack of access to medication or medical care. New Mexico law also includes a Duty to Report provision requiring any person or financial institution with reasonable cause to believe an incapacitated adult is being abused, neglected or exploited to immediately report it.

Emily Kaltenbach said the state’s older population continues to grow and that residents should look out for one another and speak up when something feels wrong. Corey Roybal, director of Adult Protective Services, said, "Preventing elder abuse starts with awareness and connection." The New Mexico Aging and Long-Term Services Department also pointed to National Council on Aging data saying about one in 10 Americans age 60 and older may experience some form of abuse.

The state’s own records show how fast the problem has grown. APS received 15,302 reports in fiscal year 2025, up 64% from 14,386 the year before, and the annual report says the division is one of six within the Aging and Long-Term Services Department and accounts for 89 of the department’s more than 207 full-time employees.

In McKinley County, the stakes are especially high. Census Reporter data puts the county’s population at 68,945, with a median age of 36.2 and a Native population of about 75 percent. About 27.1 percent of residents live below the poverty line, including 24 percent of seniors 65 and older, and the county spans 5,451.1 square miles with just 12.6 people per square mile. In a place that large and that spread out, the state said, noticing the warning signs early can keep an older neighbor safe before a hidden problem becomes a crisis.