Prevent Abuse

Prevention Strategies

Preventions are designed to avoid the occurrence of abuse and focus on eliminating or mitigating the risk factors that may be associated with mistreatment. There are a number of strategies that can facilitate abuse prevention and mitigation of harms. Several approaches are referenced below.
Assess Risk
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Raise Awareness
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Provide Support
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Challenge Ageism
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Plan Ahead for Future Needs
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Find Caregiving Resources
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Support Others

There are many ways to volunteer your time to promote elder justice and prevent elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Preventing elder abuse can come in the form of delivering meals to or connecting with older adults who may be experiencing social isolation in your community. 
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Risk assessment and screening happen across prevention domains. Screening instruments are standardized protocols that may assist providers in identifying the risk or presence of abuse. Several assessment tools have been and are being developed for use in health care, legal, and social service settings to identify at-risk elders. Risk assessment and screening happen across prevention domains.

Education is one of the most important forms of prevention. Programs address all types of abuse across all disciplines. Training can help professionals and the public learn to identify and respond to mistreatment. They can also be effective in creating awareness and preventing abuse. Education is even more effective when combined with other strategies to address abuse. Types of education include caregiver education, intergenerational programs, financial fraud and scams prevention, financial counseling, and training for professionals. To access recent webinars and trainings, please visit the Training Resources on Elder Abuse (TREA).

Community awareness campaigns are another approach to foster understanding of elder mistreatment. World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD), celebrated on June 15th across the United States and internationally since 2006, is an annual day for global awareness, recognition, and collective engagement.

Low social support is a significant risk factor for abuse. Being part of a social, community-based, or faith network may help reduce the risk factors associated with elder mistreatment. Community-based networks, family support, and formal services can be effective mechanisms to increase social connectedness, which can mitigate the risk for elder mistreatment. Support groups, food and housing programs, cultural and faith-based resources, education and training, emergency financial assistance, and medical and mental health treatment programs are available.

Community-based Resources:

Ageism is the stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination of people based on age. Negative attitudes and beliefs about older people can lead to harmful social, health, and economic consequences. Age prejudice in society may foster an environment in which elder mistreatment is more likely to occur.

Communication strategies focused on eliminating ageism by framing aging in a positive light can help dispel misperceptions of older adults and aging. The Reframing Aging and Reframing Elder Abuse Initiatives promote a solutions-oriented approach to age-bias by highlighting the values of justice, equity, and inclusion. Elder justice is social justice and is an issue that we should all address as a community.

Advance care planning can help people plan for their anticipated future healthcare and financial needs. Advance planning ensures that older people’s preferences and values are communicated and documented. This is effective for all people, particularly for those who may later become incapacitated and unable to make decisions for themselves. Types of planning tools include advance directives, powers of attorney, and supported decision-making agreements that may reduce the risk of abuse and exploitation.

Family/chosen family caregiving is rewarding but can be difficult as care recipients’ needs increase. Without appropriate supports in place, caregiving challenges could potentially lead to elder mistreatment. Resources and information are available to support family/ chosen family caregivers.