2002

Volume 14 Number 1

Rating of Interagency Working Relationship and Associated Factors in Protective Services by Shantha Balaswamy, PhD

ABSTRACT. Many agencies and occupational groups are involved in reporting, investigation, planning intervention and treatment in cases of elder maltreatment. Collaborative efforts between mandated adult protective services and community agencies are critical in assisting elderly victims of maltreatment as it requires knowledge, resources, and skills of many occupational groups from diverse disciplines. This study explores the overall evaluation of the relationship between interacting agencies from the perspective of diverse occupational groups who work with elder maltreatment cases. It also examines the factors associated with the overall ratings of the relationship between agencies. The findings are reported along with suggestions and directions for greater collaboration and improved coordination among agencies.

Key words: Elder mistreatment, inter-agency relationship, adult protective services, inter-agency disagreements, and inter-agency cooperation

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Powerlessness and Abuse and Neglect of Older Adults by Daphne Nahmiash, PhD

ABSTRACT: This article is a qualitative study which addresses the interacting relationship between the environmental context of care giving and abuse and neglect of older adults. These are examined through the thematic content analysis of risk factors identified in sixteen 'in depth' interviews of abused and neglected victims including two of their abusers. The interviews provide a portrait of their past and present situations, their roles and relationships and the process through which the interviewees move into their described process of powerlessness. The interviewees are analysed through a critical, systematic, ecological analysis of the historical, gender and cultural perspectives of the interviewees. Through the relationships of the victims and their abusers in the macro, meso, exo and micro systems, questions are raised about the growing debate regarding changes in family patterns and demographics that affect how societies define the provision of care to their dependent adults. They demonstrate that violence is produced by complex interacting systems and significant events, that impact on the life courses of some older adults and some care givers leading them into powerless positions and resulting in abuse and neglect.

Key words: Older adult, powerlessness, abuse, neglect, systematic analysis

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Profiles of Older Adults Who Screen Positive for Neglect During an Emergency Department Visit by Terry Fulmer, PhD, RN,FAAN; Lisa Guadagno, BS, MPA; Gregory J. Pavesa, PhD, MSW; Carla VandeWeerd, PhD(c), BSW; Anthony J. Baglioni, PhD; and Ivo Abraham, PhD, RN, FAAN

ABSTRACT: The purpose of this paper is to describe how elder mistreatment (EM) assessment has been conducted in emergency departments in an ongoing study on elder neglect and to present profiles of older adults who are assessed as neglected by domestic caregivers. Data from 334 patients, which include 22 neglect cases, are presented in order to examine the demographic profile of the sample and the differences between the neglect and non-neglect groups. Results suggest that, although there are no differences in the basic demographic variables of the two groups, differences exist in regards to the type of caregiver, the reason for the patient's emergency department visit, and the elder's functional and dependency status.

Key words: Elder mistreatment, elder neglect, emergency department screening, emergency care, geriatric assessment

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The Legal Response to Elder Abuse and Neglect by Mary Joy Quinn, RN and Candace J. Heisler, JD

ABSTRACT:In the United States legal system, both civil and criminal, has been underutilised in dealing with elder abuse and neglect. Social service and health practitioners have been unfamiliar with the language and procedures in legal settings. Legal remedies have been obscure or inadequate to address the problems. When elder abuse and neglect were first "discovered" in the late 1970s, efforts focused on safeguarding the victim through civil justice remedies, i.e., guardianships, mandatory reporting laws, adult protective services. The criminal justice system also became involved in order to hold the alleged wrongdoer accountable. Specialised units have developed in police departments and prosecutor offices to deal with the criminal behavior. New laws are providing more flexibility for the legal system, both civil and criminal. Attention to the legal aspects of the issue are apparent in the Summit Conference held by the National Center on Elder Abuse in 2001 and the development of the Elder Justice Act which was introduced into the U.S. Senate in 2003

Key words: Criminal justice system, civil justice system, multidisciplinary, levels of proof, rules of the legal system, Elder Justice Act

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Dilemmas and Ethics: Social Work Practice in the Detection and Management of Abused Older Women and Men by Gail Wilson, PhD

ABSTRACT: Social workers in one multi-ethnic area of UK were interviewed on the subject of elder abuse. They produced a dominant discourse that ignored issues of emancipatory practice relating to diversity and difference (gender and ethnicity) and that oversimplified the complexity of elder abuse cases. They worked in an organisational climate that provided insufficient resources to deal with cases of elder abuse once identified, and that imposed performance indicators that took no account of practical and ethical aspects of the abuse of older women and men. It was rare for a case of elder abuse to have a good outcome, and hence staff were faced with situations (defined as dilemmas) where no decision was likely to benefit the service users. Ethical practice gave way to avoidance of ethical issues and a reliance on guidelines and management aims.

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Volume 14 Number 2/3

Protecting Older Americans: A History of Federal Action on Elder Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation by Anonymous

ABSTRACT: Congressional hearings on elder abuse began over a quarter century ago. However, federal legislative and departmental activity for addressing the problem has been slow and lacks coordination and comprehensiveness. In addition, federal funding to combat elder abuse represents only a small percentage of that spent on such other abused populations as children and women. The barriers and challenges to addressing elder abuse are identified along with existing programs at the federal level. The article concludes with a discussion of state and local initiatives which show promise for effectively preventing or treating this problem.

Key words: Congressional elder abuse recognition, elder abuse programs, federal funding

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Senator John Breaux: The Elder Justice Proposal of 2002 by Anonymous

ABSTRACT: The number of older Americans is steadily rising, and with it will come a concomitant increase in abuse, neglect, and exploitation. The Elder Justice Act will provide federal resources for state and community efforts as well as for research. The major purposes of the Act are to: elevate the issue of elder justice, improve the quality of information about the problem, increase knowledge and promising practices, develop forensic capacity, ensure “safe havens,” increase prosecution, supply needed training to many disciplines, address the issue in underserved populations, review model laws and practices, further security and improve information in long-term care, and encourage greater systemic accountability.

Key words: Elder abuse, Elder Justice Act, prosecution, accountability.

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Taking a Leap Forward: Adult Protective Services and the Elder Justice Act by Paula McClain Mixson, MSW

ABSTRACT: The author outlines factors in the current environment for Adult Protective Services programs in the United States of America in the spring of 2003 and the significance of the Elder Justice Act to those programs. The commentary notes key strengths and challenges in the bill and warns against relying on legislation alone to address the root causes of elder abuse.

Key words: Adult Protective Services (APS), Elder Justice Act

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Volume 14 Number 4

Making Strategic Communications Work to Prevent Elder Abuse by Jorge Daniel Faccinetti, BA

ABSTRACT: With more and more noise hitting the public, more tasks to accomplish, and limited resources, elder abuse prevention organizations must speak with one voice and act in solid partnership. This article touches on processes, systems, procedures, and resources necessary to develop strategic communications plans that are single in strategy and consistent in objectives and image. While the problem of elder abuse has been primarily covered in the academic and health professional press, this article focuses on the usage of mainstream marketing and communications principles to offer suggestions on how to achieve broad national awareness of the issues.

Key words:

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Elder Abuse and Mental Health by Willard Mays, MA

ABSTRACT: Although many effective treatments for mental illness exist, a variety of federal and state policies have created significant barriers today that inhibit the provision of mental health services to older adults. These barriers affect all older people, whether they live in the community or in an institution for long-term care. This article briefly looks at developments in recent years that have produced an unusual opportunity for the United States to address the unmet mental health needs of older Americans. The article concludes that the shortage of qualified mental health professionals is clearly a critical issue.

Key words:

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Enhancing the Justice System's Response to Elder Abuse: Discussions and Recommendations of the "Improving Prosecution" Working Group of The National Policy Summit on Elder Abuse by Candace J. Heisler, JD and Lori A. Stiegel, JD

ABSTRACT: The "Improving Prosecution" Working Group developed two of the top ten recommendations approved by the experts at The National Policy Summit on Elder Abuse. These recommendations were: (1) improving the legal landscape by strengthening elder abuse laws and (2) increasing awareness within the justice system. At the Summit, the working group members focused on the historical response of criminal justice and allied first responders to elder abuse. While acknowledging the many accomplishments that preceded the Summit, working group members recognized that the response had been inconsistent, sporadic, and limited. Significant barriers (the lack of training, resources, forensic expertise, and awareness of promising practices) hindered development of effective responses. The working group members recommended new directions and approaches. This article traces the historical criminal justice response to elder abuse and describes the recommendations of the working group, before discussing some of the pertinent activities and developments that have occurred since the Summit.

Key words: Prosecution, criminal justice system, forensics, promising practices, elder abuse, medical examiner-coroner, law enforcement, research, federal and state initiatives, multidisciplinary, fatality review teams, Attorney General, statutory reform, Elder Justice Act

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A Profile of The National Policy Summit on Elder Abuse: Perspective and Advice on Replication by Sara Aravanis, MSSA

ABSTRACT: Social change results from concerted and informed action by people who care about solving problems. However, the interest of concerned individuals must be focused on priority issues, and the experts, those who know the impact of the problem, those who can envision a preferred future, must be involved in defining the solutions. This article briefly describes The National Policy Summit on Elder Abuse where experts and visionaries came together in Washington, DC, in December 2001 to develop the first-ever national elder abuse action agenda. The article contains suggestions and advice for those interested to utilize the elder abuse summit approach for influencing policy change at the state and local level.

Key words: Elder abuse, national policy, multidisciplinary teams,
adult protective services

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The National Policy Summit Issue Briefs by Lisa Nerenberg, MSW, MPH

ABSTRACT: These issue briefs were prepared by Lisa Nerenberg, consultant to the Goldman Institute on Aging, specifically for participants in the first National Policy Summit on Elder Abuse, held December 4-6, 2001, in Washington, DC. They were provided to all participants at the Summit and set the stage for the discussions at the Summit.

Key words: Elder abuse, law enforcement, prosecution, mental health, public education, professional training, adult protective service, federal policy, state policy

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