Treating elder neglect: collaboration between a geriatrics assessment team and adult protective services

Neglect is the most common type of elder maltreatment in the United States. Currently, the only formal intervention available is provided by each state's adult protective service agency (APS). Elder neglect involves a complicated relationship among an indvidual's medical problems, social situation, and ability to function in the environment. Geriatric assessment teams are facile at dealing with such complex cases while APS caseworkers are expert in their ability to identify and confirm neglect. Forming a geriatric team that includes APS caseworkers is a logical and innovative approach to the growing problem of elder neglect.