Detecting, Addressing and Preventing Elder Abuse in Residential Care Facilities

The purpose of this project will be the evaluation of programs designed to detect, prevent, investigate, prosecute or otherwise redress abuse of frail elders who live in residential care facilities (RCFs), and the provision of recommendations for strengthening these programs. To achieve these goals, the project will focus on several specific aims. For a sample of states, the project will: describe and assess the responsibilities and processes in agencies that license RCFs for identifying, addressing and preventing abuse of residents (e.g., outreach, intake, investigation), including links to Adult Protective Services (APS), Ombudsmen, and law enforcement; describe mandatory abuse reporting laws in the selected states; describe and assess the role and performance of APS and ombudsmen in investigating and resolving abuse allegations, including the processes they use and resources available for activities related to RCFs; describe the role of law enforcement in investigating and prosecuting cases; investigate the causes of underreporting and potential solutions; Identify and describe innovative practices or model systems, including coordination across agencies; assess the feasibility of their implementation in other states; and make recommendations for changes in policies and programs.
CA/NCF