Silent Abuse of Israel's Elderly Often Starts at Home, Welfare Data Shows
On the International Day for Awareness of Abuse and Neglect of Older Adults, Israel’s Welfare Ministry described a pattern that often begins with supposed family help and ends in exploitation. A woman who had lived independently for decades was joined by her daughter and son-in-law after her health declined. At first they cooked and cleaned, but soon there were shouting, control over her money, and eventually, as officials put it, the home was no longer hers.
Wadim Dobromislin, a senior social worker in Haifa who handles elderly and vulnerable adults, said such cases are common. He described one woman whose relatives took over her apartment and finances, then kept living off her after she returned from hospitalization. Even after welfare intervened, she refused to file a complaint. "It is the child," he said. "Very few parents are willing to go to court against their children. They prefer to sacrifice themselves."
According to the ministry, 6,262 older adults were treated in 2025 by 120 dedicated units across the country, up 3% from the previous year. New referrals totaled 5,537, up 4%, while financial exploitation and scams jumped sharply to 217 cases from 135, a 61% increase. In 92% of cases, the abuser was a family member, and nearly half were the victim’s own children.
In Sderot, social worker Ayelet Nachshon said the war and evacuations made older residents more vulnerable, with loneliness increasing the risk of abuse, neglect and fraud. She described a Holocaust survivor tricked into handing over her card after a fake bank call, and another older woman who transferred her savings after callers claimed her grandson was in serious trouble. One victim later died after a fall and hospitalization, which Nachshon believes was worsened by the emotional blow of the scam.
The ministry also said public reports of abuse and fraud rose 22%, while sexual abuse cases increased 39% and violations of rights, including autonomy and freedom of choice, rose 35%. Women accounted for 67% of victims, and people aged 75 and older were the main risk group. Authorities said they increasingly use legal tools, with a 50% rise in cases where staff helped victims file police complaints or court petitions, and 288 older adults were referred to alternative housing and protection solutions. The ministry urged anyone suspecting abuse or fraud to call 118 or contact local social services immediately.
