Another Look at the Helpfulness of Occupational Groups in the Discovery of Elder Abuse and Neglect

ABSTRACT

This paper summarizes the results of a 1997 survey of 395 adult protective services workers in 43 states that produced ratings of the helpfulness of 17 occupational groups in the detection of cases of elder abuse and neglect, respectively. Data are also presented on ratings of the overall awareness of the public and professional workers about elder abuse and neglect and on efforts to improve awareness of these forms of elder mistreatment. Findings suggest that many occupational groups were more helpful in detecting elder abuse and neglect in the late 1990s than was the case at earlier points in time.

KEYWORDS:

• Abuse
• detection
• domestic violence
• neglect
• perception
• public
• occupations
• victims