Questionnaires were distributed to 695 social workers, care managers, and home-care assistants who work with older adults in 2 local social services departments in southwest England that serve predominantly urban populations. Both departments have adult protection procedures that require staff to respond, report, and record suspected physical abuse of the elderly. A total of 355 completed questionnaires were returned (51-percent response rate). The questionnaire consisted of four versions of a core vignette, with each describing a situation in which the physical abuse of an older adult with dementia may have occurred. Each vignette was accompanied by questions regarding actions by practitioners in such a situation. The caregiver's gender and the severity of abuse were manipulated in the vignettes. The study found that social workers had significantly higher levels of training in elder abuse than home-care assistants, as well as more experience in the types of abuse encountered. Social workers also had more experience with cases that involve the physical abuse of older adults. "Formal action" ratings were higher for social workers than home-care assistants across all four vignettes, although these differences were not significant; however, across both occupations, recommendations for formal action were more likely if the alleged abusive caregiver was male and a higher level of physical abuse was involved. Formal action was less likely to be recommended if the suspected victim was male. Suggestions for further research are offered. 2 tables, 2 figures, and 52 references