Historical Abuse Data                Student Research                Publications

Welcome to the Elder Mistreatment (EM) & Elder Abuse Team's site.The purpose of this web site is to provide an electronic publication with databases that include the following: state elder abuse statistics, a description of state investigative agency structures, an annotated bibliography of elder abuse research publications, screening instruments, and a critique of elder abuse screening instruments. 

Funding for this work was received from the National Library of Medicine Grant # 5 G13 LM008625, Project Title, “Historical Elder Abuse Data & Annotated bibliography.

Gerald Jogerst, MD

Gerald J. Jogerst, MD

Mary Ristine Brodie Geriatrics Education Professor 
Director, Geriatrics Fellowship 
Senior Associate Head 
gerald-jogerst@uiowa.edu 
319-384-7704 

Jeanette Daly, PhD

Jeanette M. Daly, RN, PhD

Research Scientist
jeanette-daly@uiowa.edu 
319-384-8995 

Gretchen Schmuch

Gretchen Schmuch, LISW

gretchen-schmuch@uiowa.edu 
319-384-7560 

State Historical Abuse Data

State historical elder abuse data was sought from each state adult/elder protective services administrator. Data received was provided in a format established by each state. No standardized language is used across states. Each state's profile has a category for report, investigations, and substantiations of abuse, type of abuse, source of complaint, characteristics of victim, alleged abuser's relationship to the elder person, alleged abuser's demographic characteristics, victim's living status/arrangement, and the victim's living site. If a cell is blank in the Excel form, the information was not available. 

Some states provided data for all adults 18 years and older. In those cases, only persons 60 years and older were included in the state data. 

Some states' provided data for victims who reside in institutional settings. In those cases, only persons living in the domestic setting were included in the state data. 

Some states data is provided by fiscal year. The year data reported was the first year of the fiscal year. For example, if the fiscal year was 1996-1997, then in these reports, it was recorded as 1996. 

Numerous terms were used for type of abuse, source of complaint, characteristics of victim, alleged abuser's relationship to the elder person, alleged abuser's demographic characteristics, victim's living status/arrangement, and the victim's living site. Terms, such as medical neglect, caregiver neglect, battery-verbal, battery-rape, exploitation-sexual, passive neglect, malnutrition, or cruel punishment, were collapsed for presentation using the following types of abuse: abandonment, confinement, emotional abuse, exploitation, general abuse, isolation, neglect, other, physical abuse, self-neglect, and sexual abuse. 

If you have questions about the rationale for data categorization, please contact Jeanette Daly at jeanette-daly@uiowa.edu

StateOrganizational Structure, APS Website, and Hotline Number
AlabamaDepartment of Human Resources: 
Adult Protective Services Division 
dhr.alabama.gov
1-800-458-7214
AlaskaDepartment of Health and Social Services: 
Division of Senior and Disabilities Services:APS 
www.hss.state.ak.us
1-800-478-9996 (in state), 
1-907-269-3666 (outside of Alaska)
ArizonaDepartment of Economic Security: 
Division of Aging and Adult Services: APS
des.az.gov
1-877-767-2385
ArkansasDepartment of Human Services: 
Division of Aging and Adult Services: 
Adult Protective Services
www.aradultprotection.com
1-800-482-8049
California

Health and Human Services Agency: 
Department of Social Services: 
Disability and Adult Programs Division: 
Adult Programs Branch: APS
https://www.cdss.ca.gov/adult-protective-services 

https://familymedicine.medicine.uiowa.edu/sites/familymedicine.medicine.uiowa.edu/files/2024-11/California%20APS%202015.pdf

ColoradoDepartment of Human Services: 
Division of Aging and Adult Services: APS
colorado.gov
 Colorado APS Intake Phone Numbers.pdf
ConnecticutDepartment of Social Services: 
Bureau of Aging, Community, and Social Work Services: 
Protective Services Unit: 
Protective Services for the Elderly (PSE)
www.ct.gov
1-888-385-4225 (in state), 
1-800-203-1234 (out of state)
DelawareDepartment of Health and Social Services: 
Division of Services for Aging and 
Adults with Physical Disabilities: 
Adult Protective Services Program
www.dhss.delaware.gov
1-800-223-9074
FloridaDepartment of Children and Families: 
Adult Services: Adult Protective Services Program
www.myflfamilies.com
1-800-962-2873
GeorgiaDepartment of Human Resources: 
Division of Aging Services: APS 
aging.dhs.georgia.gov
1-866-552-4464 Press option "3"
HawaiiDepartment of Human Services: 
Social Services Division: 
Adult and Community Care Services Branch
humanservices.hawaii.gov
Oahu: 1-808-832-5115, 
Hilo/Hamakua/Puna: 1-808-933-8820, 
Kona/Kohala/Kamuela/Kau: 1 808-327-6280, 
Kauai: 1-808-241-3337, 
Lanai/Molokai/Maui: 1-808-243-5151
IdahoIdaho Commission on Aging: aging.idaho.gov
Area Agencies on Aging: APS
www.idahoaging.com 

Area I (Coeur D'Alene) 
Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Kootenai, Shoshone 
208-667-3179 or 1-800-786-5536 

Area II (Lewiston) 
Clearwater, Idaho, Latah, Lewis, Nez Perce 
208-743-5580 or 1-800-877-3206 

Area III (Boise) 
Ada, Adams, Boise, Canyon, Elmore, 
Gem, Owyhee, Payette, Valley, Washington 
208-332-1745 or 1-844-689-7562

Area IV (Twin Falls)
Blaine, Camas, Cassia, Gooding, 
Jerome, Lincoln, Minidoka, Twin Falls 
208-736-2122 or 1-800-574-8656

Area V (Pocatello) 
Bannock, Bear Lake, Bingham, Caribou, 
Franklin, Oneida, Power 
208-233-4032 or 1-800-526-8129 

Area VI (Idaho Falls) 
Bonneville, Butte, Clark, Custer, Fremont, 
Jefferson, Lemhi, Madison, Teton 
208-522-5391 or 1-800-632-4813
IllinoisDepartment on Aging: 
Division of Older American Services: 
Bureau of Elder Rights: 
Elder Abuse and Neglect Program 
(in conjunction with Area Agencies on Aging)
www.illinois.gov
1-866-800-1409
IndianaFamily and Social Services Administration: 
Division of Aging: APS
www.in.gov
1-800-992-6978
IowaDepartment of Human Services: 
Division of Children and Family Services: APS
dhs.iowa.gov
1-800-362-2178
KansasDepartment of Social and Rehabilitation Services: APS
www.dcf.ks.gov
1-800-922-5330
LouisianaDepartment of Health and Hospitals: 
Office of Aging and Adult Services: APS
dhh.louisiana.gov
1-800-898-4910
MaineDepartment of Health and Human Services: 
Office of Elder Services: APS
www.maine.gov
1-800-624-8404
MarylandDepartment of Human Resources: 
Community Services Administration: 
Office of Adult Services: APS
dhr.maryland.gov/office-of-adult-services/
1-800-917-7383
MassachusettsExecutive Office of Elder Affairs: 
Aging Services Access Points: 
Protective Services Program
www.mass.gov
1-800-922-2275
MichiganDepartment of Human Services: 
Individual and Family Services: Adult Programs: APS
www.michigan.gov
1-855-444-3911
MinnesotaDepartment of Human Services: 
Aging and Adult Services Division: 
Adult Protective Services Unit
APS Website
1-844-880-1574
MississippiDepartment of Human Services: 
Division of Family and Children's Services: APS
www.mdhs.state.ms.us
1-800-222-8000
MissouriDepartment of Health and Senior Services: 
Division of Senior and Disability Services: APS
health.mo.gov
1-800-392-0210
MontanaDepartment of Public Health and Human Services: 
Senior Long-Term Care Division: 
Adult Protective Services Program
dphhs.mt.gov
1-800-551-3191 (in state)
NebraskaHealth and Human Service System: 
Department of Services: Aging Services: APS
dhhs.ne.gov
1-800-652-1999 (in state), 
1-402-595-1324 (outside of Nebraska)
NevadaDepartment of Health and Human Resources: 
Division for Aging Services: Elder Protective Services
adsd.nv.gov
Las Vegas / Clark County: 1-702-486-6930 
Statewide / All Other Areas: 1-888-729-0571
New HampshireDepartment of Health and Human Services: 
Bureau of Elderly and Adult Services: 
Adult Protection Program
www.dhhs.state.nh.us
1-800-949-0470 (in state) or 
1-603-271-7014 (outside of New Hampshire)
New JerseyDepartment of Health and Senior Services: 
Division of Aging and Community Services: APS
www.state.nj.us
 New Jersey Adult Protective Service Providers.pdf
New MexicoAging and Long-Term Services Department: 
Adult Protective Services Division
www.nmaging.state.nm.us
1-866-654-3219
New YorkOffice of Children and Family Services: 
Bureau of Adult Services: Protective Services for Adults
ocfs.ny.gov
1-844-697-3505, Press Option 6 
(within New York State only) 

Outside New York: contact the local county 
Department of Social Services APS. 
A free on-line official version of New York 
statutes is not available.
North CarolinaDepartment of Health and Human Services: 
Division of Aging and Adult Services: APS
www.ncdhhs.gov
 Directory of North Carolina County APS.pdf
North DakotaDepartment of Human Services: 
Aging Services Division: 
Vulnerable Adult Protective Services
www.nd.gov
1-855-462-5465
OhioDepartment of Aging: 
County Departments of Job and Family Services: 
Adult Protective Services Program
jfs.ohio.gov
866-243-5678
OklahomaDepartment of Human Services: 
Family Support Services Division: 
Adult Protective Services Unit
www.tulsalibrary.org 
1-405-521-3660
OregonDepartment of Human Resources: 
Seniors and People with Disabilities Division: APS
www.oregon.gov
1-855-503-7233
PennsylvaniaDepartment of Aging: 
Area Agencies on Aging: 
Protective Services for Older Adults Program
www.dhs.pa.gov 
1-800-490-8505
Rhode IslandDepartment of Elderly Affairs: 
Protective Services
www.dea.ri.gov
1-401-462-0555
South CarolinaDepartment of Social Services: 
Division of Adult Protective Services
dss.sc.gov/abuseneglect/adult-protective-services/
1-803-898-7318
South DakotaDepartment of Social Services: 
Division of Adult Services and Aging: 
Adult Protective Services Program
dss.sd.gov
1-866-854-5465
TennesseeDepartment of Human Services: 
Division of Adult and Family Services: APS
www.tn.gov/humanservices/article/adult-protective-services
1-888-277-8366
TexasHealth and Human Services Commission: 
Department of Family and Protective Services: APS
www.dfps.state.tx.us
1-800-252-5400
UtahDepartment of Human Services: 
Division of Aging and Adult Services: APS
daas.utah.gov
1-800-371-7897
VermontAgency of Human Services: 
Department of Disabilities, Aging, 
and Independent Living: 
Division of Licensing and Protection: 
Adult Protective Services Program
www.dlp.vermont.gov
1-800-564-1612
VirginiaDepartment of Social Services: 
Division of Family Services: APS
www.dss.virginia.gov
1-888-832-3858
WashingtonDepartment of Social and Health Services: 
Aging and Disability Services Administration: APS
www.dshs.wa.gov
1-866-363-4276
West VirginiaDepartment of Health and Human Resources: 
Bureau for Children and Families: 
Office of Social Services: APS
www.dhhr.wv.gov 
1-800-352-6513
WisconsinDepartment of Health and Family Services: 
Division of Supportive Living: 
Bureau of Aging and Long Term Care Resources: 
County Adult-at-Risk Agency
www.dhs.wisconsin.gov
 Wisconsin Elder Adults Help Lines.pdf
WyomingDepartment of Family Services: 
Protective Services
dfsweb.wyo.gov
1-307-777-3602
Washington DCDepartment of Human Services: 
Family Services Administration: APS
dhs.dc.gov
1-202-541-3950

In September 2000, a research team at the University of Iowa was awarded a grant to investigate domestic elder abuse at the national level. This two-year award was made possible by funds from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The overall purpose of this project was to evaluate the impact of state Adult Protective Service (APS) legislation on the implementation of the investigative system for elder abuse. One of the specific aims was to differentiate investigative structure and investigator characteristics at the reporting district level for all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The following reports are individualized for each state that responded to the survey. 

Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to open these pdfs. Acrobat Reader is free and can be downloaded directly from the Adobe website. Click here to go to the Adobe website and download the necessary software. Internet Explorer 5.5 or greater is needed to open the Elder Abuse .pdf reports. Download now at http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/.

 Alabama.pdf

Department of Human Resources Office of Adult Services.

 Alaska.pdf

Department of Administration, Adult Protective Services.

 Arizona.pdf

Dept. of Economic Security Aging & Adult Administration.

 Arkansas.pdf

Department of Administration, Adult Protective Service.

 California.pdf

Department of Social Services, Adult Protective Services.

 Colorado.pdf

Department of Human Services, Adult Protective Services.

 Connecticut.pdf

Department of Social Services.

 Delaware.pdf

Dept. of Health and Social Services, Adult Protective Services.

 Florida.pdf

Department of Children & Families, Adult Protective Services.

 Georgia.pdf

Department of Human Resource Office of Adult Services.

 Hawaii.pdf

Department of Human Services.

 Idaho.pdf

Idaho Commission on Aging.

 Illinois.pdf

Illinois Department on Aging.

 Indiana.pdf

Family and Social Services Administration.

 Iowa.pdf

Iowa Department of Human Services, Adult Protective Services.

 Kansas.pdf

Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services.

 Kentucky.pdf

Department for Social Services.

 Louisiana.pdf

Governor's Office of Elderly Affairs.

 Maine.pdf

Bureau of Elder And Adult Services.

 Maryland.pdf

Department of Human Services.

 Massachusetts.pdf

Executive Office of Elder Affairs.

 Minnesota.pdf

Dept. of Human Services Aging and Adult Services Division.

 Mississippi.pdf

Department of Human Services.

 Montana.pdf

Department of Public Health and Human Services, Adult Protective Services.

 Nebraska.pdf

Department of Health and Human Service System.

 Nevada.pdf

Division for Aging Services.

 New_Hampshire.pdf

Department of Health and Human Services, Adult Protection Program.

 New_Jersey.pdf

Department of Health and Senior Services.

 New_Mexico.pdf

Children, Youth and Families Department. 

 New_York.pdf

 Office of Children and Family Services, Bureau of Adult Services. 

 North_Carolina.pdf

Department of Health and Human Services.

 Ohio.pdf

Department of Human Services.

 Oklahoma.pdf

Department of Human Services, Adult Protective Services.

 Oregon.pdf

Senior & Disabled Services Division.

 Pennsylvania.pdf

Department of Aging. 

 Rhode_Island.pdf

Department of Elderly Affairs.

 Texas.pdf

Department of Protection and Regulatory Services.

 Utah.pdf

Division of Aging and Adult Services.

 Vermont.pdf

Vermont Adult Protective Services.

 Virginia.pdf

Department of Social Services.

 Washington.pdf

Department of Social and Health Services. 

 Washington_DC.pdf

Department of Human Services. 

 West_Virginia.pdf

Department of Health and Human Services.

 Wisconsin.pdf

Department of Health and Family Services.

 Wyoming.pdf

Department of Family Services.

Elder Mistreatment Student Research

Each year, the University Carver College of Medicine provides a medical student research program. The purpose of the Student Research Fellowship program is to interest medical students in research and to acquaint them with career possibilities in academic medicine. Students are encouraged, as far as possible, to employ their own initiative in planning and pursuing a research project of their choice. 

The following students have participated in elder abuse research.

Rebecca Oswald, medical student, 2003

Oswald, R.A., Jogerst, G.J., Daly, J.M., & Bentler, S.E. (2004). Factors Associated with Iowa Family Physician's Reporting Elder Abuse. Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect, 16(2), 75-88.

Hilary Buri, medical student, 2004 and 2005

Buri, H., Daly, J. M., Hartz, A. J., & Jogerst, G. J. (2006). Factors Associated with Self-Reported Elder Mistreatment in Iowa's Frailest. Research on Aging, 28(5), 562-581. 
Buri, H., Daly, J., & Jogerst, G. (2009). Elder Abuse Telephone Screen Reliability and Validity. Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect, 21(1), 58-73.

Amy Schmeidel, medical student, 2007 and 2008

Schmeidel, A. N., Daly, J. M., Rosenbaum, M. E., Schmuch, G. A., & Jogerst, G. J. (2012). Healthcare professionals' perspectives on barriers to elder abuse detection and reporting in primary care settings. Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect, 24(1), 17-36.  

Jessica McCool, medical student, 2008

McCool, J., Daly, J. M., Xu, Y., & Jogerst, G. J. (2009). Multidisciplinary Reports of Nursing Home Mistreatment. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 10(3), 174-80.  

Lara Galloway, medical student, 2008

Galloway, L., Jogerst, G. J., Daly, J. M., Zheng S., & Xu, Y. Substance Abuse Associated with Elder Abuse in the United States. American Journal of Drug & Alcohol Abuse, 38(1), 63-69.

Jennifer Leeney, student in School of Social Work masters program, 2004

Daly, J.M., Jogerst, G.J., Haigh, K.M, Leeney, J.L., & Dawson, J.D. (2005). APS Workers Job Requirements Affecting Elder Abuse Rates. Social Work in Health Care, 40 (3), 89-102.

Kellie Haigh, student in School of Social Work masters program, 2004

Daly, J.M., Jogerst, G.J., Haigh, K.M, Leeney, J.L., & Dawson, J.D. (2005). APS Workers Job Requirements Affecting Elder Abuse Rates. Social Work in Health Care , 40 (3), 89-102.