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Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop a profile of sexual abuse cases among adults aged 60 and older receiving attention from Adult Protective Services units in Virginia over a 5-year period. Design and Methods: We used bivariate analysis to characterize older adults (n = 82) experiencing sexual abuse and the circumstances of the abuse. We used multiple correspondence analysis, a multivariate method, to explore relationships between characteristics of the older adults and the type of sexual abuse experienced. Results: Most victims of sexual abuse were women, between the ages of 70 and 89, residing in a nursing home. Typically, sexual abuse involved instances of sexualized kissing and fondling and unwelcome sexual interest in the person's body. The majority of perpetrators were nursing home residents who were 60 years of age and older. In most situations, witnesses to the sexual abuse were facility residents. Implications: Orientation affects the invasiveness of the sexual abuse experienced by older adults. Our data reveal a small but persistent number of cases identifying individuals who are especially vulnerable to this form of abuse. These findings establish a baseline for future research and set the stage for further examination in both domestic and institutional settings as well as possible interventions and staff training.

Discusses issues related to educational and professional success in gerontology: management of the graduate school experience, career paths in gerontology, securing the first job, and socialization as faculty members. (SK)

Adult development and aging content via compressed video was presented in an opening class lecture, inservice training session, and standalone unit on elder abuse. Participants suggested that instructors needed to become more comfortable with the medium and participants needed guidance on taking advantage of multimedia presentations. (SK)

In 1998 Kentucky's Local Coordinating Councils on Elder Abuse (LCCEAs) were established to intervene in cases of elder abuse in local communities. As of 2008 there were 39 LCCEAs in the state, covering 112 of' Kentucky's 120 counties. This study was an attempt to understand a concerted statewide multidisciplinary team (MDT) effort related to elder abuse. Survey questions examined the roles, processes, varieties, and accomplishments of these councils. Nearly half of the councils have been in existence for less than 3 years. Councils provided a range of services from expert consultation to service provided for keeping members up to date about services, programs, and legislation. Roles for the councils included identifying service gaps and systemic problems and advocating for change. Half the councils conducted case reviews, and of those, most examined all types of cases. Lack of funding was a majorproblem for all councils. Funding came from a patchwork of sources, which suggested that it was inadequate and unreliable. The LCCEAs appear to function largely as community educators. To ensure the long-term viability of the LCCEAs and to better integrate and unify their efforts, LCCEAs need committed staffs, constant funding, clear vision and goals, and uniform and consistent outcome measures. KEYWORDS elder abuse, multidisciplinary teams, local elder abuse coordinating councils DOI: 10.1080/08946560903446063

The future directions for social policy and elder abuse are forecast using the characteristics of three contiguous generations: Baby Boomers, Gen Xers, and Nexters. The results suggest greater potential victimization for the Boomers than previous generations, particularly neglect and exploitation. Gen Xers may experience more self-neglect. Social policy will continue to emphasize the criminalization of elder abuse, reflecting Boomer self-righteousness and severity. Elder abuse victimization will have a medical hue, given the Boomer obsession with health and wellness. Although Gen Xers are less cynical than Boomers, they will be more concerned about their immediate lives and pass the elder abuse policy torch to the Nexters, who will elevate it in deference to the Boomers and in quest for a higher moral order. KEYWORDS elder abuse, social policy, generations, cohort differences DOI: 10.1080/08946560903446139

In response to a growing and worldwide recognition of elder abuse, the WorldView Environmental Scan on Elder Abuse was undertaken. It represented an attempt to collect both information on the nature of the problem of elder abuse and responses to it from a global perspective. The first of its kind, the Scan gathered information about elder abuse as well as on related legislation and policy, services and programs, educational resources and needs, training, and past and ongoing research. A total of 5.3 countries responded to the survey questionnaire, with 362 respondents representing the six world regions designated by the World Health Organization. Findings revealed that factors contributing to elder abuse include changing social and economic structures, isolation of victims, inadequate knowledge of laws and services, intergenerational conflict, and poverty. Barriers to seeking resources to intervene and protect older adults include the culture of the country, language issues, literacy, stigma, lack of mobility, lack of funding, and insufficient familiarity with and access to the internet. The data serve as a catalyst to take action, both globally and nationally, while emphasizing the changes necessary to protect the rights and dignity of older adults. KEYWORDS elder abuse, international study, policy DOI: 10.1080/08946560903445974

This article highlights the brief 30-year history of major U.S. policies that address elder abuse. The history of elder abuse policy is checkered and incomplete, reflecting a lack of comprehensive federal legislation. We begin our review by discussing the scope of elder abuse policy and, in particular, the Social Security Block Grant, which has become the sole source of federal aid for Adult Protective Services programs. The other source of federal aid, typically for helping efforts by Area Agencies on Aging, is the Older Americans Act. We document the incremental but increasing attention paid to elder abuse by chronicling key initiatives, including early congressional reports and hearings; White House Conferences on Aging; and efforts by pioneers such as Mario Biaggi, Claude Pepper, John Breaux, and Orin Hatch--efforts that we believe have led to the various introductions of the Elder Justice Act. KEYWORDS U.S. policies, Social Security Act, Older Americans Act, elder mistreatment policy, Elder Justice Act DOI: 10.1080/08946560903436130

Mental Health Services (MHS) meet mental health needs of older adults through active, outpatient, community-based care. Adult Protective Services (APS) are involved with needs of older adults who have mental disability and mental illness. Adult Protective Services and MHS staff may to work together when they respond to the needs of victims and adults at risk for abuse, neglect, self-neglect, and exploitation. The purpose of this study was to understand effective APS-MHS collaborations (e.g., leadership, organizational culture, administration, and resources in predicting success). A survey that was sent to members of the National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA) revealed that both APS and MHS have strong commitments to protecting clients' rights and autonomy, but there appear to be differences between the two with regard to implementation, apparent in cases involving clients with diminished mental capacity who are at imminent risk, but who refuse help. Strengths of APS-MHS collaborations included improved communication and better service for at-risk clients. KEYWORDS Adult Protective Services, Mental Health Services, older adults, collaborations, at-risk clients DOI: 10.1080/08946560903004821

Voting is a fundamental right for all United States citizens, one that usually continues for elderly people as long as they are alive. As adults age, certain issues regarding voting warrant deeper consideration than in previous years, especially those presenting as a result of impaired sight, hearing difficulty, dementia, or other special needs. What will happen to millions of men and women who have taken the right to vote for granted, but who gradually become immobile or physically impaired? What are states doing to help secure the enfranchisement of an increasing number of older adult voters? The purpose of this article is to address these issues by focusing on the following questions: What bas been the historical nature of polling place accommodations for elderly people? What are states doing in terms of accommodating older voters at the polls while ensuring the integrity of the voting process? What effect has recent Help America Vote Act legislation bad with regard to polling place accommodations? Our results indicate that accommodations for older voters are being made but are not yet at a level required to serve a rapidly aging population. KEYWORDS voting, older people, political participation, elections, Help America Vote Act (HAVA)

Persons without family or friends to serve as healthcare agents may become "unrepresented" in healthcare, with no one to serve as healthcare agents when decisional support is needed. Surveys of clinicians (N = 81) and attorneys/guardians (N = 23) in Massachusetts reveal that unrepresented adults experience prolonged hospital stays (66%), delays in receiving palliative care (52%), delays in treatment (49%), and other negative consequences. Clinicians say guardianship is most helpful in resolving issues related to care transitions, medical treatment, quality of life, housing, finances, and safety. However, experiences with guardianship are varied, with delays often/always in court appointments (43%) and actions after appointments (24%). Policy solutions include legal reform, education, and alternate models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reports research findings concerning 119 alleged sexual perpetrators who were reported to state authorities for abusing elderly individuals residing in care facilities. The largest group of accused was employees of the facilities, followed by facility residents. Family members of the alleged victims and visitors to the facilities also were among those reported as sexually abusive. Investigation of the allegations by Adult Protective Services and regulatory staff resulted in 32 of these individuals being confirmed as sexual perpetrators against vulnerable elders. Male and female alleged and confirmed sexual perpetrators were identified as well as both male and female elderly sexual abuse victims. Perpetrator characteristics, victim vulnerabilities, abuse acts, locations of assaults, and available case outcomes are presented. Implications of the findings are discussed. KEYWORDS. Elder sexual abuse, sexual offenders, facility abuse, abuse investigation, resident perpetrators, abuse by facility staff

During a 4-year period, aggregated data from Adult Protective Services case files in Virginia revealed 17 cases of sexually abused young, middle-age, and old men. The most common types of sexual abuse across age groups involved instances of sexualized kissing and fondling and unwelcome sexual interest in the individual men's bodies. The majority of alleged perpetrators were male; they typically were similar in age to the men and resided in the same residential facility. In none of the cases was the alleged perpetrator prosecuted. Only two of the men continued to be at risk of further sexual abuse by the alleged perpetrator. Implications of these data for future research and practice include a need for studies that focus on differences between male and female victims, especially concerning investigations and interventions, and for training on reporting and intervention for facilities and agencies and organizations working with victims and alleged perpetrators. Keywords: adult protective senvices; old men: sexual abuse: vulnerable middle-age men: vulnerable young men

Previous research on the sexual abuse of older adults has revealed few cases of the sexual abuse of older men. The first national study of the sexual abuse of vulnerable adults in facilities, reported in this article, collected data on alleged, investigated, and substantiated cases of sexual abuse. This study revealed 26 cases reported and screened in for investigation concerning the alleged sexual abuse of older men (aged 50 and older) residing in nursing homes. Cases occurred in five states within a six month time period. Of these cases, six were confirmed upon investigation by Adult Protective Services or other regulatory agencies. Victims tended to be predominately white males with cognitive and physical deficits that limited their ability for self care. The most typical sexual abuse alleged and substantiated was fondling. Residents were more often substantiated as the abuser than other perpetrators. Sexual abuse of older men in nursing homes crosses traditional gender, cultural, and role boundaries for both victims and perpetrators. doi:10.1300/J084v19n01_03 KEYWORDS. Sexual abuse, older men, adult protective services, regulatory entities, elder abuse, abuse in nursing homes

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop a profile of sexual abuse cases among adults aged 60 and older receiving attention from Adult Protective Services units in Virginia over a 5-year period. Design and Methods: We used bivariate analysis to characterize older adults (n = 82) experiencing sexual abuse and the circumstances of the abuse. We used multiple correspondence analysis, a multivariate method, to explore relationships between characteristics of the older adults and the type of sexual abuse experienced. Results: Most victims of sexual abuse were women, between the ages of 70 and 89, residing in a nursing home. Typically, sexual abuse involved instances of sexualized kissing and fondling and unwelcome sexual interest in the person's body. The majority of perpetrators were nursing home residents who were 60 years of age and older. In most situations, witnesses to the sexual abuse were facility residents. Implications: Orientation affects the invasiveness of the sexual abuse experienced by older adults. Our data reveal a small but persistent number of cases identifying individuals who are especially vulnerable to this form of abuse. These findings establish a baseline for future research and set the stage for further examination in both domestic and institutional settings as well as possible interventions and staff training. Key Words: Sexual abuse, Older men, Older women, Adult Protective Services, Nursing homes

Data from Virginia Adult Protective Services (APS) case files of 95 abused women aged 60 years and older were assessed to establish demographic trends; ability to care for self; type, pattern, and place of abuse; information on witnesses and alleged offenders; and case resolution and outcomes. The most common types of mistreatment reported were neglect, exploitation, and physical abuse. The women typically had several functional limitations and were dependent upon their family members for care. Most cases were not prosecuted, and the majority of women remain at risk for further abuse. Implications of these data for future research and practice are discussed. KEYWORDS. Older women, abuse, neglect, adult protective services outcomes

Elder abuse multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) include professionals from diverse disciplines who work together to review cases of elder abuse and address systemic problems. Using an e-mail survey format, the authors received information from 31 MDT coordinators across the country representing fatality review teams, financial abuse specialist teams, medically oriented teams, and 'traditional' teams. The coordinators provided information on the functions their teams perform, the importance of specific functions, cases reviewed, composition of teams. policies and procedures, administration, funding, and challenges to effective functioning. Teams expressed only mild concern for breaches in confidentiality. MDTs stressed the importance of input by professionals from the legal community for successful team functioning. [Article copies available for a fee from The Haworth Document Delivery Service: 1-800-HAWORTH. E-mail address: Website: [c] 2003 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.] KEYWORDS. Multidisciplinary team, elder abuse, interdisciplinary team, financial abuse, fatality review, coordination

Aggregated data from APS case files of sexually abused older women between the ages of 70 and 89 living in nursing homes were collected over a five-year period, yielding a total of 50 substantiated cases. The most common types of sexual abuse involved instances of sexualized kissing and fondling and unwelcome sexual interest in the women's body. All alleged perpetrators were male; they typically were 70 years of age and older and residents in the nursing home. In only three cases was the alleged offender prosecuted in court and only one of these cases was the offender convicted. Implications of these data for future practice and research are discussed. KEYWORDS. Sexual abuse, older women, adult protective services, nursing homes

Limited research on elder abuse among American Indians and Alaska Natives (AIANs) suggests a higher prevalence of abuse. Using data from the National Elder Mistreatment Study (NEMS), we compared contextual characteristics and elder mistreatment prevalence rates from a community-based sample of AIAN (n = 195) and Black (n = 437) and White (n = 5,013) respondents. There were differences in the prevalence of 16 abuse types and the 23 contextual variables. AIAN respondents had more similarities compared with Black respondents than White respondents, though differences existed. The cumulative prevalence of emotional, physical, and sexual mistreatment in the past year, neglect, and financial abuse by a family member for the AIAN group was 33%, almost double the 17.1% reported in the NEMS study. Over their lifetime, 29.7% of AIAN respondents reported experiencing two or more types of neglect, exploitation, or mistreatment. Almost one fourth of AIAN respondents reported emotional abuse since 60 years of age (the most commonly occurring abuse type)—nearly double that of White respondents. This is the first study to offer comparative prevalence of elder abuse for both AIAN older males and females that draws from a nationally representative sample. The study also provides descriptive analysis of important contextual information within the AIAN population, an underrepresented racial group in elder abuse research. Disaggregating nonmajority racial groups to examine contextual variables and the prevalence of elder mistreatment in the NEMS data set specific to AIAN respondents fills a knowledge gap. Known prevalence of various abuse typologies among AIAN elders can be useful in setting priorities for community planning and response, and in prioritization of funding for future research on causative mechanisms by abuse type, screening, and interventions at various levels. Findings may facilitate development of culturally specific evidence-based prevention and intervention practices aimed at needs specific to AIAN older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kevin Hansen became our friend through his passion and interest in the rights of older people. Not only was he smart, insightful, and dependable, but also, he was comedic and kind. He was one of those rare people with whom we loved to work early and as often as possible. We are saddened at the sudden passing of our good colleague. Surely, a flame for great good in the world was extinguished far too soon. We will miss you, Kevin. This Article goes out authored by and dedicated to you. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]