Adult Protective Services Workers' Experiences With Serious Illness and Death

Abstract

This study examined the emerging issue of experiences with end-of-life issues in adult protection. A national survey of adult protective services (APS) workers (N = 508) examined encounters with serious illness, injury, death, and bereavement and how these situations were handled professionally and personally. APS workers often encountered clients and caregivers with life-threatening illnesses, and clients receiving hospice services. About three-quarters had worked on at least one case involving a client's death. Overall, more education and training about serious and terminal illness, death, grief, and bereavement is needed to prepare APS workers to work with clients and their families facing a variety of end-of-life situations.

Keywords:

• adult protection
• Adult Protective Services workers
• client death in adult protection
• elder abuse
• elder abuse and caregiving
• elder mistreatment
• end-of-life care
• end-of-life care education
• practice with older adults and serious illness

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by a faculty grant awarded to first author by The University of Alabama Research Advisory Committee.