Elder
Abuse Prevention, Detection, Reporting, and Intervention
2012 Elder Abuse Awareness Webinar Series (click the date to view the webinar)
Elder
Abuse Program
Under
the Older Americans Act, the Iowa Department on Aging
is charged with developing and enhancing programs and
policies for the prevention of elder abuse, neglect
and exploitation. This program focuses on public education
and outreach with specific efforts in coordinating the
Elder Abuse Public Awareness Campaign. The campaign
includes development and dissemination of abuse prevention
materials and press releases.
The Iowa Department on Aging provides an Abuse
Education Review Panel approved curriculum for mandatory
reporter trainers. The curriculum, Trainer's
Guide on Dependent Adult Abuse for Mandatory Reporters,
is available as a free download on this website.
Elder
Abuse Initiative
In
Fiscal Year 2002, the Iowa Department on Aging launched
the Elder Abuse Initiative. This partnership with Area
Agencies on Aging, the Department of Human Services
and other stakeholders in the community provides enhanced
prevention, detection and reporting of abuse while also
offering local advocacy and system coordination to ensure
the protection of Iowa Seniors. The result is that identified
Iowans age 60 and over gain information about available
services and support systems.
At this time, the initiative operates by means of Regional Prevention Coordinators (AAA Staff) within the following Area Agencies on Aging and counties: Southwest 8 Senior Services (Cass, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie & Shelby), Heritage (Benton, Cedar, Iowa, Johnson, Jones & Linn), Hawkeye Valley (Black Hawk, Buchanan, Grundy, Hardin, Marshall, Poweshiek & Tama) and Northwest Aging (Buena Vista, Clay, Dickenson, Emmet, Lyon, O'Brien, Osceola Palo Alto & Sioux, ).
The
efforts of this Initiative have been to:
- Assist
the Department of Human Services in assessing service
needs and level of dependency of person's 60 and over;
- Allow
for interventions by the aging network in cases that
may not be abuse under the law;
- Introduce
vulnerable Iowans to the aging service network via
outreach efforts;
- Utilize
funds provided through the Senior Living Trust and
Older Americans Act, which allow individuals to safely
remain in their home;
- Coordinate
mandatory reporter training to professionals in our
community; and
- Provide
community awareness about elder abuse and the solutions
the Initiative offers.
As a result, the system for protecting vulnerable older
adults functions more efficiently, effectively and assists
more Iowans.
Performance
Outcomes Report.
2012 Elder Abuse Initiative Results Report
2006
Dependent Adult Abuse Forum Report
During the
summer of 2006, nine forums were held across the state to continue
the ongoing dialogue with professionals and stakeholders about
how the service delivery and protection system for dependent adults
and elders is functioning. Opinions were sought on what
was working well, what could work better and their suggestions
for improvements and/or changes at the local and state level.
To view the comprehensive report, please click on the above link.
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For general
definitions related to Elder Abuse, visit the Elder
Rights Questions & Answers page.
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