Improved safeguarding of older people through inter-agency learning

Elder abuse remains a significant problem nationally and globally. Early definitions of abuse, however, oversimplified the phenomena and while the complexity of elder abuse, in nature and scale, has also been growing recently there remains some confusion conceptually and in practice in terms of what is meant by and can be identified as abusive practice. The lack of conceptual clarity is evident across professional and agency boundaries. The authors suggest that a potential way forward is through the development of interprofessional learning as an integral part of education and training in respect of safeguarding older adults. This article highlights a number of complexities in the context of safeguarding and raises areas for further reflection and possible debate.