Helping Victims of Elder Abuse

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AARP Iowa, the state Office of Attorney General and other agencies are providing training for law enforcement officers, prosecutors and judges to help them address elder abuse in their communities. Funded by a three-year $400,000 federal grant, the project also provides services to victims—including housing and legal assistance—and strengthens intervention at the local level.

Nearly 12,000 Iowans were referred for elder abuse services from 2007 to 2011 through a demonstration project in 22 counties. If the project had operated statewide, referrals would have exceeded 53,000, according to the Iowa Department on Aging.

Experts say elder abuse is grossly underreported. Some victims may be fearful of retaliation or reluctant to get an abusive family member in trouble. To learn more, go to iowaattorneygeneral.gov, scroll down to For Consumers and click on For Older Iowans.