NCJ Number
113329
Date Published
1988
Length
70 pages
Annotation
This report presents the results of the evaluation of four State-funded Illinois elder abuse demonstration projects designed to provide information to the legislature and the Illinois Department of Aging on the needs of the abused elderly and the services required to meet them.
Abstract
The types of abuse targeted by the programs were physical abuse, confinement, sexual abuse, deprivation, financial exploitation, and psychological and verbal abuse. Models of intervention emphasized were mandatory abuse reporting, legal intervention, and advocacy. The evaluation, which was conducted between March 1985 and July 1987, focused on victim demographic characteristics, the relationship of the alleged abuser to the victim, the source of reports of elder abuse, types of abuse and neglect reported and substantiated, multiple reports of abuse, types of abuse reported more than once, types of client services, and the disposition of closed cases. Over 640 reports of abuse and neglect were received by the four projects over the study period, and 72 percent of the reported cases were substantiated. The typical abused older person was female, 77 years old, and widowed. Financial exploitation was the most frequent abuse. The report recommends a statewide program of response to elder abuse, based on the advocacy intervention model and building on the existing legal, medical, and social service system. Specific recommendations include voluntary reporting of suspected abuse cases, regional administrative agencies, and supplemental short-term and emergency services. 20 tables, 19 figures, appended research instruments. For the executive summary, see NCJ-113328.