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Description of the Problem that Necessitated the Policy



The nature of the problem is that older people in our society, ages 65 and up, are facing many different types of abuse. According to the National Center for Elder Abuse (NCEA), for every one incident of abuse that is reported, five others go unreported. More than two thirds of those committing elder abuse are members of the victims’ families (NCEA, 2009). Elder abuse in the home is a widespread problem that affects hundreds of thousands of elderly people in our country. Since families and caregivers keep incidents very much a secret and hidden, elder abuse is very underreported. Some experts estimate that only one out of fourteen domestic elder abuse incidents are brought to the attention of authorities. “If this estimate is true, then domestic elder abuse cases reported to state adult protective service or aging agencies represent only the tip of the iceberg” (Clark County, 2010). “In 1981, researchers estimated that 10 percent of the U.S. elderly population, or 2.5 million people, were victims of various forms of elder abuse. In 1996, it was estimated that there were between 820,000 and 1,860,000 abused elders in the country. Yet because it is most often not reported, a true nationwide picture of elder abuse cannot be accurately drawn” (Clark County, 2010). Elder abuse includes older adults age sixty-five and older who are dependent on a caregiver to give them basic needs and in-home or facility care. The causes of this problem are not the same every time. The causes vary from case to case and there are many different factors that contribute to the incident(s). Sometimes violence in a family is a learned behavior and passed on from generation to generation. In these families, abusive behavior is the normal response to tension or conflict because they have not learned any other ways to respond. In these cases, the family members have a way of relating to each other that is usually hostile and uncaring. In relation to this, Wolf (2009) explains that the exchange theory, which describes how some of the dependencies that exist between a victim and a perpetrator relate to tactics and responses developed in family life, which continue into adulthood. “In some cases, the elderly person becomes dependent to some extent on family members for help. This dependency can strain the resources, both material and psychological, of family members and set the stage for abuse. Stress caused by too many demands and too few resources can contribute to abuse. Caring for frail older people is a very difficult and stress-provoking task. This is particularly true when older people are mentally or physically impaired, when the caregiver is ill-prepared for the task, or when the needed resources are lacking. Under these circumstances, the increased stress and frustration of a caregiver may lead to abuse or willful neglect. Ignorance about the aging process and the needs of elderly people sometimes results in harm to the psychological and/or physical well being of elders (Clark County, 2010).

Two other theories that Wolf explains are the social learning theory and the political economic theory. The social learning theory says that the abuse was learned and that spouse abuse does exist. The political economic theory says that the challenges faced by elders in a society that leaves people in poverty and takes away their importance in community life. Elder abuse cannot be put into one theory; it is something that needs to be looked at through factors across many areas.



Policy Description

The policy falls under family violence. In 1982, the national center on elder abuse was created, just a year after it was proposed by Congress. According to the NCEA, federal laws on child abuse and domestic violence fund services and shelters for victims, but there is no comparable federal law on elder abuse. The federal Older Americans Act provides definitions of elder abuse and authorizes the use of federal funds for the NCEA and for certain elder abuse awareness and coordination activities in states and local communities.

Adult protective services vary from state to state. Adult protective services are the first responders to reports of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of vulnerable adults. Most Adult protective services serve both older and younger vulnerable adults. First the report is made meaning someone suspects elder or vulnerable adult abuse, exploitation or neglect. A person calls an abuse hotline or state/ local adult protective services. The next step is the investigation. Adult protective services staff make contact with the victim within the state-regulated timeframe, depending on the urgency. A caseworker assesses current victim risk factors and their ability to understand current rick and give informed consent for further investigation and services. The third step is support. With the consent of the victim, an adult protective services caseworker develops a service plan. Services may be provided directly by the caseworker through arrangements with other community resources or on a short-term emergency basis.