This paper lays out the research methodology and results from an investigation of state policies and practices of 52 U.S. states and territories regarding Adult Protective Services, elder mistreatment reports; it fills an information gap on the legal, ethical, and practical barriers and facilitators to improving communication between APS and elder mistreatment reporters.
Lack of feedback about reports made to Adult Protective Services (APS) is an important barrier to elder mistreatment reporting. To better understand barriers and facilitators to APS-reporter communication, the authors conducted an environmental scan of state policies and practices. They gathered publicly available information from 52 states and territories on APS administrative structure, reporting, intake, investigation, and feedback processes; performed a secondary analysis of focus groups with Emergency Medical Services providers and APS staff; and interviewed 44 APS leaders in 24 states/territories. Results revealed variation in information-sharing with reporters. Qualitative analyses revealed three overarching themes related to whether, when, and how information is shared. Results were used to develop a model illustrating factors influencing APS decisions on sharing information. This model incorporates the type of reporter (professional or nonprofessional), their relationship with the APS client (brief or ongoing), and the potential risks and benefits of sharing information with the reporter. (Published Abstract Provided)