Past research agrees that elder abuse is a multidisciplinary problem requiring a multidisciplinary response; meaning officials from various agencies should work together to respond to elder abuse. However, little research has examined the role of individuals responding to cases of elder abuse in nursing homes. This study built on past research by considering whether differences between those involved in responding to elder abuse were based on opinions or misconceptions. Surveys were distributed to 119 police chiefs, 73 nursing home directors, and 205 ombudsmen from 26 States to determine how groups perceive abuse. Results indicated that there were differences in the way these groups understood the elder abuse problem and some differences in their opinions, but those differences were not as drastic as those based on the interpretation of “facts." The groups did not agree on the extent of elderly criminal victimization or the extent of victimization in nursing homes. The role of gender was found to be somewhat important in explaining some of these differences suggesting that interactions between gender and occupation may play a role in fostering differences in opinions and understanding, or misunderstanding about crime in the lives of older persons. Tables and references