Reply to: Comment on “Accelerating the Pace of Elder Justice Policy to Meet the Needs of a Growing Aging Population”

Abstract

Thank you for the opportunity to respond to Dr. Marian Liu's thoughtful letter regarding our recent article, “Accelerating the Pace of Elder Justice Policy to Meet the Needs of a Growing Aging Population” [1]. We are grateful for Dr. Liu's insights and her deep, ongoing contributions to the field of elder justice.

We especially appreciate Dr. Liu's emphasis on the critical importance of sustained and expanded investment in Adult Protective Services (APS). As we highlighted in our article, APS serves as the front line in responding to elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation. In addition to leading investigations to understand the context of abuse, neglect, exploitation, and self-neglect, APS staff address risks and act to prevent crises, provide essential referrals to resources to address financial barriers, provide legal services, and address mental and physical health needs.

At this moment, APS faces significant headwinds. The broader political climate—including increasing calls to cut federal domestic spending—poses real risks to the future of APS. Some states' APS workers may have few co-workers and higher caseloads, or their APS system may become diminished to almost no activities. Proposed funding reductions, along with recent and ongoing administrative changes such as the reorganization of the Administration for Community Living (ACL), could destabilize essential elder justice infrastructure to such a degree that access to APS will become impossible at a time when the need is growing.

In this context, it is critical that we stand firmly behind APS. Federal leadership and investment remain vital—not only to maintain the current workforce and ensure consistency and equity across states, but also to foster innovation, workforce development, and data-driven improvements. We must advocate not just to preserve existing supports, but to expand them meaningfully.

At the same time, we recognize the importance of building a broader, more resilient elder justice ecosystem. This requires a “both/and” approach—one that continues to grow and protect federal investments while also activating local, philanthropic, and private−sector partnerships. These additional channels can amplify impact, foster cross-sector collaboration, and sustain momentum, especially in times of federal uncertainty.

Finally, we would like to extend our sincere appreciation to Dr. Liu for her leadership and for acknowledging the historic and ongoing work of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging. The Committee has played a critical role in advancing elder justice policy, raising awareness, and holding systems accountable. Its continued productivity and bipartisan commitment are deeply valued.

Thank you again for the opportunity to respond, and for helping to advance this dialogue. We look forward to continued collaboration to accelerate progress and strengthen protections for older adults nationwide.

Kristin Lees Haggerty prepared the manuscript.

The sponsor was not involved in the preparation of the manuscript.

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

This publication is linked to a related comment by Pi-Ju Liu. To view this article, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.19524.