No abstract

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.

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Adult protective services (APS) are provided to older people and people with disabilities in danger of being mistreated or neglected, unable to protect themselves, and with no one to assist them. In most states, APS programs respond to the reports people make concerning the abuse, neglect, or exploitation of vulnerable adults. These programs exist in all 50 US states but serve different age groups and provide different types of services. Each APS social worker walks a line between a commitment to the safety and well‐being of the client and a commitment to the client's liberty. Created by state statutes and regulations, APS were included in the Elder Justice Act (2010). Though unfunded, the potential exists to bring APS under the aegis of a federal umbrella and to provide more secure funding and uniformity of practice.