This report, based on an expert panel convened by RAND and RTI International, identified knowledge and resource gaps and explored strategies to improve the identification of and responses to elder mistreatment.
RAND and RTI International convened an expert panel in 2023 to identify knowledge and resource gaps and explore strategies to improve the identification of and responses to elder mistreatment. The workshop participants identified the highest-priority needs in this area—including research to support evidence-based, holistic, and culturally appropriate approaches—while also supporting the widespread adoption of effective programs to reach the greatest number of older adults who have been victimized. Key findings are that there is a lack of evidence-based interventions to respond to and support older adults who are at risk of or experiencing different types of mistreatment; there is insufficient evidence about the impacts of the full variety of programs on elder mistreatment outcomes; victims of elder mistreatment sometimes lack holistic support and do not receive necessary services; limited research exists on how elder mistreatment is experienced and understood by different cultural groups, and cultural differences are not understood or integrated into developing policies and practices; and there are adoption and implementation challenges for prevention, detection, and intervention strategies. Elder mistreatment—which includes physical, psychological, and sexual abuse; fraud and financial exploitation; and neglect of older individuals—is a serious public health issue and a growing area of concern as the percentage of the U.S. population age 60 and older continues to rise. Medical, financial, legal, and social service providers who come into contact with older adults can be well positioned to identify persons at risk for or experiencing elder mistreatment and connect them with service providers to address their needs. However, these service providers require tools and training to identify elder mistreatment. Once victims or at-risk individuals are identified, there are also challenges with how best to intervene and provide victims with effective support and services.