“No Secrets” and Beyond: Recent Elder Abuse Policy in England

Abstract

This paper provides an overview of English elder abuse policy including guidelines developed for adult protection by their Department of Health in 2000, a report released from the House of Commons Health Committee in 2004 on elder abuse, related policy changes affecting older adults, the mentally incapacitated, and social care regulations, and the launching of public awareness campaigns. In contrast to the U.S., English policy subsumes elder abuse within the larger category of vulnerable adult protection, steers clear of mandatory reporting, emphasizes abuse by formal caregivers rather than domestic violence, relies on a multi-agency approach to investigation and intervention, and supports more remedial, less punitive regulatory oversight.

The Effectiveness of Educational Intervention in Improving Primary Health-Care Service Providers’ Knowledge, Identification, and Management of Elder Abuse and Neglect: A Systematic Review

“…In the United Kingdom and most states in the United States, health-care professionals are legally required to report any suspected EAN (Filinson, 2006; Lachs & Pillemer, 2015). However, the knowledge and reporting practices of health-care professionals remain poor despite the availability of legislation on EAN (Kennedy, 2005).…”

Contrasting perceptions of health professionals and older people in Australia: what constitutes elder abuse?

“…The findings from this study are consistent with the earlier UK study (Selwood et al ., 2007) suggesting that carers and professionals in both countries have similar views about what constitutes abuse. Australian legal and policy responses to elder abuse are similar to the UK in that they have not adopted mandatory reporting or protective services for older people (as in the USA) but emphasise interagency cooperation and a more remedial, less punitive regulatory oversight (Filinson, 2006; Victorian Department of Human Services, 2009).…”

All Elder Abuse Perpetrators Are Not Alike

“…Treatment must be focused on both parties, as well as on relationship issues and problem-solving skills of both parties to increase the probability that abuse will cease (Baird, 2005; Daniel & Bowes, 2011; Henderson et al, 2004; O’Donnell, Treacy, Fealy, Lyons, & Lafferty, 2014). The United Kingdom, for example, is focused on providing necessary services to end abuse and restore relationships, rather than the punishment of perpetrators (Filinson, 2008). Thus, the historical singular focus on victims must be abandoned in favor of recognizing the importance of victim–perpetrator relationships that exists in many cases.…”