Clinical Issues in Responding to Alleged Elder Sexual Abuse

ABSTRACT

Elder sexual abuse allegations are both complicated for Adult Protective Services (APS) caseworkers to investigate and difficult to resolve effectively. This article explores clinical issues involved in the investigation of sexual abuse by APS workers and describes problems experienced in assisting victims. The model of elder sexual abuse consultation developed and used in Massachusetts is described, along with other resources put in place by the Massachusetts Elder Protective Services Program to help caseworkers respond effectively to alleged and substantiated sexual abuse. Examples of effective investigation and case management are presented along with examples of errors that can occur when professionals are insufficiently trained, supervised, and guided.

KEYWORDS:

• Elder sexual abuse
• protective services investigations
• APS casework
• sexual assault victims
• sexual abuse within the family
• substantiating abuse allegations

Acknowledgments

The authors express appreciation to the following individuals for their contributions to this article: Gregory Giuliano, former Program Director of the Massachusetts Elder Protective Services Program; Jonathan Fielding, Regional Manager, Massachusetts Elder Protective Services Program providing oversight to the Sexual Abuse Consultation Program; and Jack Casey, MSW, LICSW, former Elder Protective Services Regional Coordinator and Sexual Abuse Consultant.

Notes

1. Note that the statistics collected do not reflect the full number of sexual abuse allegations substantiated. The numbers focus on the primary allegation substantiated and do not include multiple types of abuse.

Elder Abuse Reporting and Protective Services Program. Code of Massachusetts Regulations 651 §5.02 (2004).