Changing Systems to Address Elder Abuse: Examples from Aging Services, the Courts, the Long-Term Care Ombudsman, and the Faith Community

Abstract

The authors describe their use of systems change as a means of ameliorating elder abuse. After assessing the needs of their target audiences, projects developed a variety of strategies. These include disseminating promising practices in courts, creating Elder Law Clinics to assist with conservatorships, educating older adults about predatory mortgage lending, building a new response system for complaints of abuse and neglect in unlicensed care facilities, and convening clergy and lay leader groups to learn how faith communities can make a difference in elder abuse and neglect. The authors share tips on replicating their work, describing barriers to implementation and possible solutions.

Keywords:

• community organizing
• community services
• elder abuse
• promising practices
• public awareness
• systems change