Citation

Reynolds SL, Schonfeld L. J. Elder Abuse Negl. 2004; 16(1): 1-22.

Affiliation

School of Aging Studies, University of South Florida

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1300/J084v16n01_01

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

he purpose of this article is to examine Florida's Adult Protective Services database (APS) to determine the characteristics of those who have been referred to the APS system, and the trends in reporting of types of elder mistreatment between 1993 and 1998. Comparative data are used to examine gender and racial differences, and longitudinal analysis is conducted to examine trends in reported mistreatment and different types of mistreatment. We find increasing trends in reported mistreatment that are not consistent for different categories; neglect rates declined while abuse and financial exploitation rates rose. As the Florida APS data differed from other national and state studies of elder mistreatment in ways that support the study conclusions from the National Elder Abuse Incidence Study-that the most effective way to report mistreatment may come from local agencies, rather than through the state hotline mechanism.