About 3,200 reports filed under Colorado elder abuse law

About 3,200 reports of suspected elder abuse have been filed in Colorado under a law that took effect in July.

Viki Manley of the Colorado Department of Human Services tells Colorado Public Radio that this is the first time that people in a range of professions, including banking and hospitals, have been required to report such cases.

Most of the reports have been for neglect and exploitation but there have also been some for physical and sexual abuse. The reports so far include 100 cases of suspected financial exploitation involving an estimated $13 million.

Colorado is the 48th state to pass such a law and drew from the experience of other states in drafting it.