DOJ Announces Elder Justice Roadmap

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has announced a new initiative that seeks to provide additional oversight to combat elder abuse. The Elder Justice Roadmap defines elder abuse as any "physical, sexual or psychological abuse, as well as neglect, abandonment and financial exploitation."

Research suggests that one in 10 Americans over the age of 60 has experienced elder abuse or neglect and that people with dementia are at a higher risk.

The Elder Justice Roadmap was developed using input from hundreds of public and private stakeholders whose feedback was used to determine the project's top five priorities, which are:

1. Awareness: Increase public awareness of elder abuse, a multi-faceted problem that requires a holistic, well-coordinated response in services, education, policy and research. 
2. Brain health: Conduct research and enhance focus on cognitive (in)capacity and mental health - critical factors both for victims and perpetrators. 
3. Caregiving: Provide better support and training for the tens of millions of paid and unpaid caregivers who play a critical role in preventing elder abuse. 
4. Economics: Quantify the costs of elder abuse, which is often entwined with financial incentives and comes with huge fiscal costs to victims, families and society. 
5. Resources: Strategically invest more resources in services, education, research and expanding knowledge to reduce elder abuse. 

To assist in meeting these goals, the DOJ has developed an interactive online curriculum to teach legal aid and other civil attorneys how to identify and respond to elder abuse. The Department of Health and Human Services is also supporting the mission by developing a voluntary national adult protective services (APS) data system.

To learn more, click here.