Reason for Case Closure Among Substantiated Reports of Elder Abuse

Abstract

The reason for case closure was examined in a sample of 2,679 substantiated reports of elder abuse made over a 26-month period to the Illinois adult protective services (APS) program. The most common reason for case closure was the APS worker's assessment that the victim was no longer at risk for abuse (34.5%), followed by long-term care placement (21.4%), administrative closure (14.2%), victim refusal of services (12.3%), and victim death (12.0%). Victims with multiple impairments were more likely to enter long-term care. Victims who refused services tended to have abusers who were substance abusers, had mental illness, or were financially dependent on them. Those who died had more impairments and were more likely to be disabled or nonambulatory at the time of the abuse report.