Elder Abuse Additional Resources
Federal and Intergovernmental Bodies
National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA)
The National Center on Elder Abuse serves as the national clearinghouse for research, training, and technical assistance regarding elder mistreatment. Operating as a gateway to evidence-based practices, it translates complex academic findings into actionable tools for social workers, clinicians, and community advocates. By maintaining up-to-date toolkits and educational resources, the center plays a vital role in elevating public awareness and refining systemic responses to late-life vulnerability.
Department of Justice (DOJ) Elder Justice Initiative
The DOJ Elder Justice initiative coordinates the federal law enforcement response to elder abuse, with a heavy emphasis on combating transnational elder fraud sweeps and systemic financial exploitation. Beyond prosecution, the initiative funds critical research to improve forensic tools and provides specialized training for state and federal prosecutors. It also maintains a national helpline, directly linking victims and mandatory reporters to localized legal and protective services.
World Health Organization (WHO) Aging and Life Course Unit
Operating on a global scale, this unit from the World Health Organization establishes standardized international frameworks for defining, measuring, and reporting elder abuse across diverse cultural and economic landscapes. The WHO focuses on integrating elder justice into broader public health and sustainable development goals, advocating for global policy shifts. Their research particularly highlights how ageism intersects with institutional neglect, providing foreign ministries with blueprints for protective national legislation.
Advocacy and Professional Networks
National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA)
The National Adult Protective Services Association is the only national organization dedicated to representing the frontline workforce of Adult Protective Services (APS) investigators and caseworkers. The association establishes national program standards, delivers specialized professional development, and advocates for federal funding to support vulnerable adults. Through its annual conferences and policy forums, NAPSA bridges the gap between grassroots casework and national legislative reform.
National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life (NCALL)
The National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life focuses on the distinct intersection of elder abuse, domestic violence, and sexual assault, addressing the unique challenges faced by older survivors of interpersonal trauma. The organization provides specialized training to domestic violence advocates and the criminal justice system to ensure safety planning and court procedures are adapted for older adults. By challenging the assumption that elder abuse is solely an issue of caregiver stress, NCALL highlights the dynamics of power and control in later life.
National Indigenous Elder Justice Initiative (NIEJI)
NIEJI addresses the unique legal, cultural, and structural realities of elder abuse within American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian communities. The initiative creates culturally specific resource materials and data collection tools that honor tribal sovereignty and traditional values. Their work heavily emphasizes community-based restorative justice practices, seeking to heal family units while safeguarding the respected role of Elders.