I had an experience with in-family elder care amounting to elder abuse. The family member requiring care had been living with relatives for nearly two years, but had never been allowed outside the home unless someone in the family accompanied her. She had not been allowed to meet one person (other than paid care givers) in the city she had been moved to. She had no friends - had not met a single person her own age, and was virtually a prisoner in her daughter's home. She often cried about her situation. Initially, I requested that when I stayed with her, I be allowed to take her outside the home - to walk in the mall, to window shop, to the library, to see free-to-the- public shows, exhibits and displays, such as craft shows, or holiday entertainment. This was denied. The lady was competent and interesting, and no reasons were given for her confinement. I later discussed this with the daughter who had hired me. I told her in good conscience, I could not enforce the continued confinement. I was told "maybe, after the holidays, when the person I was caring for got to know me better." On the first day after Christmas that I was scheduled to care for this person, her daughter called me and told me they had found someone more suitable - that my services were no longer required. I thought about letting this matter drop, and simply couldn't. I reported details of this situation to the Council on Aging in my state, had several contacts with them and know the situation was the situation was looked into. I don't think I could have lived with myself if I had said nothing to anyone. Complaints of this type are handled with great confidentiality, and I have no idea of the results of their investigation, but at least I know someone looked into it. I kept imaging myself in her place, and it would have been unbearable to live like that.