Elder Abuse

Alexus Milobar, Megan Custis, Melissa Diaz, and Clay Sensibaugh

Elder Abuse
Each year thousands of elderly people are abused,
neglected, and/or exploited. Many victims are frail and
vulnerable and depend on others to meet their most
basic needs because they can no longer do it themselves.
Abusers of the elderly can be both women and men,
family members, and friends
Purple is the color of elder abuse awareness
Discussing signs and symptoms, resources, laws and
acts, and articles relating to elder abuse

1st Question
Elder abuse is underreported because older people, family remembers
and professionals lack awareness and dont understand the signs and
symptoms of abuse.

TRUE
- Dont know the signs/ symptoms, dont know how or where to report,
afraid/ lack of confidence to make a report

2nd Question
Elder abuse is a problem that most often occurs in bad
neighborhoods and rarely is an issue in more affluent neighborhoods.

FALSE
-Happens regardless of gender, race, neighborhoods, or socioeconomic
status

3rd Question
The most common type of elder abuse is physical abuse referring to
using force which results in bodily injury.

FALSE
-Approximately 50% of abuse involves neglect, followed by financial
exploitation

4th Question
Older people who find themselves being abused and exploited are eager
to get help so the mistreatment stops.

FALSE
-Dont know what to do, they think there is no help available, dont
realize they are being abused, fear (abuse will get worse/ being alone/
being placed somewhere else), self blame, lifelong pattern

Warning Signs and Symptoms

Acting scared or timid

Isolation from others
Low eye contact
Unexplainable account changes or money disappearing
Bruises or other injuries
Dirty clothes
Unexplained weight loss
Unusual behavior
Nervousness

Types of Abuse/ Neglect

Financial
Physical
Sexual
Neglect
Abandonment
Emotional
Self-neglect

Resources & Reporting

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day- June 15th

Eldercare Locator website or call 1-800-677-1116
AZ hotline: 1-877-767-2385 (M-F 7am-7pm, S &S 10am-6pm)
Online via APS central intake unit report (available 24/7)

Respond immediately to any signs/ symptoms,

be proactive.

Who responds...
Adult protective services (APS) responds to the
calls/ reports of abuse
APS is known as the 1st responder to elder
abuse
Law enforcement and long term care
ombudsman may also be involved
ELDER HAS THE RIGHT TO REFUSE
SERVICES- SERVICE CAN ONLY BE PROVIDED
WITH CONSENT!

Reaching the community

I WILL PLEDGE
-Pledge that companies are
having employees sign
upon hiring. Created by
the Maricopa Elder Abuse
Prevention Alliance.
BREAK THE SILENCE
-Brochure to educate the
community with the basics
on elder abuse. What is it,
where to report it, and the
seriousness of abuse.

Elder Justice Act

Enacted on March 23,2010 as part of the Patient Protection and
Affordable Care Act by President Obama.
The first comprehensive federal legislation that authorized a
specific source of funding to address elder abuse, neglect and
exploitation.
Improves services such as APS and LTC ombudsman programs
and mandates reporting of any abuse in LTC to law
enforcement.
No federal funding as of September 2o14, but other programs
have transferred money to help.
The Presidents budget for 2015 has allotted $25 million

The Older Americans Act

Enacted in 1965
7 Titles
o Title 3: Established authority for grants that allow states to
administer programs and services
o Title 4: Support for training, research, and demonstration
projects.
o Title 7: Issues support for programs to help maintain the
rights of older adults
It has created 629 agencies, 244 tribal organizations and
approximately 20,000 service providers
Created the Administration of Aging

Arizona Revised Statutes

Title 46, Chapter 4: Adult Protective Services
o
o

The main statutes that regulate and handle elder

abuse
9 sections that handle every aspect of elder abuse

Arizona Revised Statutes

46-451 Definitions: Program Goals

46-452 Power and Duties of the APS employee
46-453 Protection for the people who file complaints
46-454 Duty to Report Abuse
46-455 Charges for Abuse against the Elderly
46-456 Duty to Vulnerable Adult
46-457 Elder Abuse Central Registry
46-458 Hearing Process; Definitions
46-459 APS Registry

Title 46, Chapter 4: 46-454

Duty to report abuse, neglect and exploitation of
vulnerable adults; duty to make medical records
available; violation;classification
Any person who has the responsibility for the
care of a vulnerable adult or anyone who has a
legitimate concern that the elder has been
subjected to abuse.
Class 1 misdemeanor

Title 46, Chapter 4: 46-455

Permitting life or health of a vulnerable adult
to be endangered by neglect; violation;
classification; civil remedy; definition
Any person who has been hired or assigned
to provide care to an elder
Class 5 felony

The Elder Justice Act: What Nurses Need to

Know (The American Journal of Nursing)
-Nurses have the power to prevent and control elder abuse by understanding
the laws that protect elders such as the Elder Justice Act (EJA)
Key components of the EJA:
-consequences for failure to report crimes that go against the EJA in LTC
facilities
-funding for APS in all 50 states
-grants for LTC facilities & staff training to improve elder care
-forensic centers development
*Any violations or potential violations of the EJA should be reported by the
nurse as they have an ethical and professional obligation to advocate and
protect their patients

The Elder Justice Act: What Nurses Need to

Know (The American Journal of Nursing)
-In order to prevent elder abuse, nurses should understand how to report
situations of abuse in their state and how to go about proper and professional
documentation of the cases
-Forensic nursing with a geriatric focus: nurses can become specialized in
working with susceptible elder populations
-One of the best tools nurses can use to prevent elder abuse is education:
awareness and educating other nurses, caregivers, CNAs and nursing students
in recognizing the signs and symptoms of elder abuse can be a powerful tool in
lowering the rates of elder abuse each year

Elder Abuse Prevention (Journal of

Gerontological Nursing)
-Practice guideline article that expresses how to help health
personnel such as RNs, LPNs, CNAs, and caregivers assess
elder individuals who are susceptible to abuse
-Specifically, this article focuses on the necessary and
useful interventions if there is a risk for abuse for an
individual

Elder Abuse Prevention (Journal of

Gerontological Nursing)
Proposed interventions mentioned in article:
-home visitation programs and frequent check ups by official personnel
-victim empowerment/group discussions
-screening tool packages for healthcare professionals like RNs (Partner
Violence Screen)
-couples therapy
- respite programs for caregivers
-counseling, social skills & support services programs for caregivers
-money management programs for elders
-education and awareness of the signs and symptoms of elder abuse to all
healthcare professionals and community members

Conclusion and Call to Action

If you see symptoms,
dont ignore it,
explore it!

References
Administration for Community Living. (2014). What is Elder Abuse?. Retrieved from
http://www.aoa.gov/AoA_programs/elder_rights/EA_prevention/whatisEA.aspx
Administration for Community Living. (2015). Administration on aging: What if I suspect abuse, neglect, or exploitation?. Retrieved from
http://www.aoa.gov/AoA_programs/elder_rights/EA_prevention/WhatToDo.aspx
Administration on Aging. (n.d.). Older Americans Act & the Aging Network. Retrieved from http://www.aoa.gov/AoA_programs/OAA/
Arizona Attorney General. (2015). Elder abuse: Break the silence-report elder abuse brochure.
Retrieved from https://www.azag.gov/sites/default/files/sites/all/docs/seniors/BreakTheSilenceArizona Attorney General. (2015). Elder abuse: I will pledge. Retrieved from
https://www.azag.gov/sites/default/files/sites/all/docs/seniors/IWillPledge.pdf
Arizona State Legislature. (n.d.). Format Document.
Retrieved from http://www.azleg.gov/FormatDocument.asp?inDoc=/ars/46/00454.htm&Title=46&DocType=ARS
Daly, J. (2011). Elder Abuse Prevention. Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 37 (11), 11-17. http://azilliad.library.arizona.edu/illiad/pdf/1431408.pdf
Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Federal.
Retrieved from http://www.ncea.aoa.gov/Library/Policy/Law/Federal/index.aspx
Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). State.
Retrieved from http://www.ncea.aoa.gov/Library/Policy/Law/State/index.aspx
Federation of American Scientists. (2014, September 3). The Elder Justice Act: background and issues for congress.
Retrieved from http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R43707.pdf
Kelba, P.A., Falk, N.L. (2014). The Elder Justice Act: What Nurses Need to Know. The American Journal of Nursing,
114 (9), 65-68. doi: 10.1097/01.NAJ.0000453760.77129.8c
National Center on Elder Abuse Administration on Aging. (n.d.) State Resource Directory:
Arizona. Retrieved from http://ncea.aoa.gov/Stop_Abuse/Get_Help/State/Directory.aspx?state_id=AZ