Group Says It's Taking A 'First Step' In Addressing Elder Abuse

The Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council is gathering stakeholders for a conference that it calls a “first step” in addressing the growing problem of elder abuse. The meeting will involve healthcare workers, attorneys, law enforcement, and state officials.

Indiana is unique in that its Adult Protective Services are provided by prosecutors at the local level.  Last year, more than 10,000 elder abuse cases were handled by just 41 Adult Protective Services investigators statewide.  And the Hoosier population 65 and older is projected to increase 70 percent in the next 15 years. 

Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council Deputy Director Suzanne O’Malley says she isn’t ready to say exactly how many investigators are needed, though she hopes to have an answer by the start of the legislative session.

“We don’t want to just throw things out. I’d love to say we need 200, but in reality we have to have a really good basis for why we need a particular number,” O'Malley said.

She says prosecuting elder abuse cases is difficult because the victims sometimes aren’t competent or because admitting to the abuse can be embarrassing.  She says another issue is that 90 percent of elder abusers are family members.

“The elder person may feel trapped in the relationship just as a domestic violence victim may feel trapped in the relationship," O'Malley said. "They may have no place else to turn; family members may cut them off from the rest of the family.”

O’Malley says the conference set for Thursday is meant to educate stakeholders about identifying elder abuse and how to address it.