NCJ Number
150682
Date Published
1991
Length
39 pages
Annotation
This analysis of mandatory and voluntary reporting laws for abuse of the elderly focuses on abuse in private homes and other community settings rather than institutional abuse and notes that nearly every State has passed laws concerning the reporting of incidents of elder abuse.
Abstract
Data came from a literature review, State data, interviews with State officials and national experts, and a survey of 40 State officials. The findings indicated that mandatory reporting States cannot be meaningfully compared with voluntary reporting States because their laws concerning elder abuse vary substantially, States differ widely in the procedures used for collecting case identification data, and the number of elder abuse cases identified in a State is strongly influenced by many factors in addition to reporting laws. Most experts consider reporting laws much less effective than other factors in maximizing the number of elder abuse cases identified, prevented, and treated. A high level of public and professional awareness is considered the most effective factor for identifying victims. In-home services for the elderly is considered the most effective factor for both prevention and treatment of elder abuse. Table and 32 references