Elder Adult Abuse and Animal Welfare Issues: Development, Field Testing, and Dissemination of Assessment Protocols

Authors

• Frank R. Ascione, Utah State UniversityFollow
• Terry Peak, Utah State UniversityFollow

Document Type

Report

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect

Volume

24

Issue

1

Publisher

Routledge

Publication Date

12-29-2011

Journal Article Version

Accepted Manuscript

First Page

37

Last Page

49

Abstract

With funding from the Kenneth A. Scott Charitable Trust, A KeyBank Trust, and in collaboration with the Utah Division of Aging and Adult Services, we developed a general protocol for assessing animal welfare issues in the in the lives of elder adults. We also developed a follow-up protocol that can be used in cases where elder adults have expressed concern about the welfare of their animals (including threatened and actual harm). Drafts of the protocols were reviewed by Utah Adult Protective Services personnel as well as experts in the field of gerontology. Final versions of the protocols were developed based on these reviews. As part of this project, we conducted a national survey of state aging services and adult protective services agencies asking whether they include animal-welfare related questions in their evaluation/investigation forms (most do not). We are preparing a paper based on the results of this survey and will be submitting it for review at the Journal of Elder Abuse and Neglect. We have also prepared an extensive PowerPoint training presentation for aging and adult services, adult protective services, and animal welfare agencies that will be posted on the Utah Division of Aging and Adult Services Website, the Utah State University Department of Psychology and Social Work Program websites, and will be submitted for potential posting as a “Promising Practice” to the National Center on Elder Abuse. We have presented our work at national meetings of the National Council on Aging/American Society on Aging and the Gerontological Society of America. We also plan to make a presentation at the annual meeting of the National Adult Protective Services Association next October.

The protocols will also be available at the websites listed above and may also be requested by email and other methods by contacting either of the co-PIs. All the above mentioned materials are included as appendices to this report and on a CD-ROM and will also be submitted to the American Humane Association for posting on their website dealing with the LINK®. Our hope is that these materials with enhance the welfare of animals and the elder adults with whom they live.

Recommended Citation

Peak, T., Ascione, F., & Doney, J. (2012). Adult protective services and animal welfare: should animal abuse and neglect be assessed during adult protective services screening?. Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect, 24(1), 37-49.