Essential Data Elements for Reporters of Elder Abuse

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health Policy
• Social Work

Background:

• Adult and elder protective services agencies in most states produce annual reports.
• These reports often use inconsistent terminology for identifying individuals who report abuse.
• Lack of standardized terms hinders data aggregation and analysis across states.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and recommend standardized essential data elements for abuse reporters.
• To address the variability in terminology used in state elder abuse reports.
• To facilitate consistent data collection and reporting on elder abuse.

Main Methods:

• Conducted a literature search on abuse reporter data elements.
• Compiled lists of abuse reporters from 46 states' and the District of Columbia's annual reports.
• Performed a sorting exercise to categorize and analyze reporter terms.

Main Results:

• A review of 46 states' and the District of Columbia's reports revealed 248 distinct terms for abuse reporters.
• Eleven essential terms were recommended for classifying different types of abuse reporters.
• Identified significant inconsistencies in how states define and categorize abuse reporters.

Conclusions:

• Standardizing terminology for abuse reporters is crucial for improving elder abuse data quality.
• The recommended eleven terms can serve as a foundation for national consensus.
• Adoption of standardized language by state administrators and caseworkers will enhance protective services data.