NCJ Number
242912
Date Published
July 2013
Length
60 pages
Annotation
This congressional report examines elder justice program issues.
Abstract
This report addresses the extent to which there is fragmentation, overlap, or duplication across the Federal grant programs that support elder justice; the extent to which Federal programs coordinate their efforts and monitor elder justice outcomes; and how State aging agencies, area agencies on aging, and service providers deliver Federal elder justice services and what challenges, if any, they face in doing so. Findings show that growth in the percentage of the United States population over 60 years of age and in reports of elder abuse may outstrip the public resources allocated to serve the elderly; given the range of elder justice activities and individuals served under Federal programs, coordination is key to ensuring the efficient use of limited resources; while Federal agencies have taken some initial steps toward coordinating their elder justice activities, such as forming the Elder Justice Coordinating Council, their efforts to develop a coordinated response to elder abuse would be further supported by an assessment of the effectiveness of Federal elder justice programs; until common objectives and outcomes for Federal elder justice programs are defined, agencies may be working at cross purposes; and with the continuing growth in the older adult population, the absence of sufficient public awareness and education about elder abuse and the resources available to address it may slow the progress of elder justice efforts at all levels of government. Tables, figures, and appendixes