Twenty-five years ago, elder mistreatment was largely unacknowledged. The topic was veiled in secrecy, infrequently addressed, and rarely reported. Public awareness of this dark issue was limited and marked by indifference. Professionals charged with helping older adults operated in silos, within an ill-equipped and underfunded system.
Approximately 1 in 10 older Americans experience physical, psychological, financial and/or sexual abuse and neglect. For elders with cognitive impairments, the likelihood of harm is even greater. Furthermore, it is believed that the elder abuse cases reported represent only a small percentage of the true elder abuse occurring across the country. The resultant physical injuries, psychological consequences, direct economic losses, and billions of dollars in increased heath care costs have rendered elder mistreatment a serious public health concern.
In order to begin to address this growing public health crisis, Archstone Foundation made a multi-year, $16 million investment in addressing elder mistreatment. The Foundation has supported the development of Multidisciplinary Teams (MDTs) and Forensic Centers, education and training for professionals and the public, and applied research of elder mistreatment.
To understand the impact of Archstone Foundation’s investment in addressing elder mistreatment, the Foundation commissioned Keck School of Medicine of USC to conduct a retrospective review. The resulting report, Elder Abuse and Neglect Initiative Legacy Report, summarizes the Foundation’s work in addressing elder mistreatment through activating interagency collaboration and coordination, enhancing training and education, and increasing professional and public awareness of elder mistreatment. Through this work, the Foundation has sought to advance statewide and national remediation across practice, research, legislative, and policy domains. With continued momentum and collective efforts from philanthropies, government funders, policymakers, and stakeholders to build upon these gains, the path to preserve the rights and freedoms of all older adults lies ahead.
