Elder Safety, Abuse, and Neglect
Our goal as crime victim advocates is always to offer supportive care, but there are many ethical dilemmas we have to consider, especially in our work with elders and in the realm of elder mistreatment. Often, it comes down to valuing and empowering the autonomy and independence of those we serve with safety and preventing and intervening on elder mistreatment. That’s why, for this month, we created a compilation of useful resources and trainings focused on elder safety, abuse, and neglect, including resources focused on these ethical dilemmas, person-centered principles in APS, mandated reporting, self-determination, and more. As always, please don’t hesitate to contact us if you’re looking for more!
Ethics in Elder Mistreatment: A Podcast Series
NCEA
May-June 2025
Click on each podcast title to learn more:
- To report or not to report? Should reporting be mandated? This podcast discusses mandatory reporting, its importance, its ethical considerations. Will reporting actually help given the limited availability of services? Will reporting make the situation worse for the person? How does reporting violate someone’s privacy and self-determination?
- Protecting wallets vs respecting self-determination. What’s the balance? Elder financial exploitation vs. independence and autonomy. They talked about the financial cost, the mental and emotional cost, and the possible cost to an elder’s freedom.
- Is it self-neglect or societal neglect? The importance of removing bias and being person-centered when supporting elders. They talk specifically about self-neglect and how the community and the system can be improved to build rapport and offer better support.
- Is surveillance a problem or the solution? Discusses cameras in long-term care facilities. The dilemma is between protecting and valuing an elder’s privacy and the privacy of people in their rooms vs. helping to ensure their safety and prevent abuse.
- Bonus episode: Ethical dilemmas Discusses a variety of ethical dilemmas around the concept of elder abuse and mistreatment.
APS Responses to Hoarding: Safety, Support, and Harm Reduction
APS TARC
July 2025
“This webinar explores Adult Protective Services (APS) best practices for identifying, assessing, and responding to hoarding situations among older adults and adults with disabilities. Participants will learn how to balance safety concerns with respect for autonomy, apply harm reduction strategies, and engage in collaborative, trauma-informed interventions.”
“If we enter with urgency but no connection, we risk being seen as a threat.”
AANHPI Elder Safety and Wellness Case Studies
API-GBV
October 2024
“This collection of case studies aims to provide an understanding of some of the unique challenges faced by Asian/Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) elders who experience elder abuse. The goal is to equip service providers, advocates, healthcare professionals, and community members with the tools and insights necessary to initiate meaningful conversations about the barriers, access issues, and trauma that AANHPI elders may encounter.”
Serving APS Clients with Disabilities
APS TARC
September 2024
“According to National Adult Maltreatment Reporting System (NAMRS) data, a little under 25% of APS reports are called into APS regarding adults aged 18-59. In this podcast, we will discuss how APS can better serve people with disabilities who are under 60 years old.”
The Importance and Use of Person-centered Principles in Adult Protective Services
APS TARC
July 2024
“The purpose of this brief is to better understand the person-centered principles in theory, in the ACL Final Rule, and in current application in APS programs. This brief:
- Defines and describes the person-centered principles as established in federal law including the Olmstead U.S. Supreme Court decision and in other resource material from ACL and other organizations
- Provides an overview of the application of the person-centered principles in the Final Rule requirements
- Examines current policy and practice related to the person-centered principles based on data from the National APS Process Evaluation
- Provides a brief list of references for further information on the person-centered principles”
Looking for more resources around elder mistreatment?
Looking for more resources around elder mistreatment?
Check out compilations of resources from last year: “Let’s Talk About Abuse in Later Life”