800 elder abuse cases: helpline hits eight-month high

More than 800 cases of abuse against older people have reached a helpline in the first eight months of 2026, the highest total for that point in the year since the service began in 2019. The helpline is run by Confemac. The figures were released in Madrid on 8 September.

Confemac says the total so far represents 20% of the cases it detected across the whole of 2025. The helpline recorded 666 calls in 2025. If the present pace continues, 2026 could pass the record of 846 cases set in 2023.

Psychological abuse leads the reports

Psychological abuse accounts for 33.5% of the types of abuse logged. Financial abuse follows at 15.1%.

A further 13.4% concern behaviour that restricts an older person's freedom and rights.

Most recorded cases involve family settings

Where the setting was known, 55.8% of cases were linked to family environments. Care homes accounted for 21.3%.

Andalusia recorded 26.4% of reports and Madrid 21.7%, together making up almost half of the total. Catalonia followed with 10%, ahead of the Valencian Community on 9.5%.

Confemac is calling for stable, sufficient funding for the helpline, which received support this year from the Ministry of Social Rights. The organisation says wider awareness can bring to light abuse that might otherwise remain hidden, unseen or treated as normal. A rise in reports does not necessarily mean abuse itself is increasing, it adds; it may reflect better detection and easier access to help.

Topics: Politics

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com