Jerusalem Post/Israel News/Crime in IsraelOf the cases where an elder was defrauded, 92% of the perpetrators were family members of the victim, with 48% their children and 33% their spouse.Follow us on GoogleElderly individuals report confusion, memory decline, difficulty with orientation and sometimes even delirium, a state of acute sudden confusion(photo credit: gettyimages)ByTZVI JASPERJUNE 19, 2026 09:16Elder fraud cases jumped by 61% in Israel over 2025, the Welfare Ministry announced on Monday in a report for World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.In the cases where an elder was defrauded, 92% of the perpetrators were family members of the victim, with 48% their children and 33% their spouse.There was also a 26.5% increase in financial exploitation of elders by family members or other people close to them.The report also detailed a 39% increase in sexual abuse towards elders, and a 35% increase in violations of their rights, including their autonomy.The victims were mostly women (67%), and the report specified that the group at highest risk was people above the age of 75.An illustrative image of elderly Israelis. (credit: NATI SHOHAT/FLASH90)The report also described how the public is more aware of the potential for elders to be abused, and how treatment centers are protecting the victims through legal and judicial action.Over the course of 2025, the public reported 22% more cases of elder abuse than the previous year, the report stated. There was also a marked increase in cases where a professional accompanied an elder to file a police report or court filing (50%), cases where elders requested judicial assistance (37%), and cases in which elders submitted requests for replacement housing and legal aid (24%).Welfare Minister calls on public to work against elder abuse"The Welfare Ministry is working with the best tools at its disposal to detect, prevent, and treat cases of exploitation and abuse of senior citizens, while recruiting additional government agencies," said Haim Katz, Minister of Welfare and Social Affairs. "The data requires vigilance and involvement. When there is suspicion, there is no room for hesitation. I call on the public to report and contact the treatment agencies and authorities in any case of potential harm to a senior citizen. We will continue to act decisively against this despicable phenomenon."Director-General of the Ministry of Welfare and Social Affairs, Yinon Aharoni, stated that "The report reflects the complex reality that senior citizens in Israel face, but also the ability of the social services system to identify vulnerabilities and intervene in a timely manner."The increase in inquiries from the community, in referrals for legal assistance, and in the use of tools to protect victims indicates that the ministry's investment in training, in the development of professional tools, and in raising awareness is bearing fruit," he said. "At the same time, the increase in fraud and economic exploitation requires expanding cooperation with all relevant bodies in order to provide a broader protective envelope for the senior population."Elder abuse is more than physical violenceYariv Mann, head of the Senior Citizens Administration at the ministry, said that the report's findings emphasized that harm to senior citizens is not always physical violence."More and more cases involve economic exploitation and fraud, violation of rights, abuse of trust, and loneliness that increases the risk," he said. "The increase in reports from the community proves that the public now better understands the warning signs and knows how to seek help. We will continue to strengthen the detection, treatment, and prevention system, and work together with local authorities, the health system, the police, and civil society organizations to protect senior citizens in Israel."Follow us on Google