{"title":"Adult Protective services work with clients at the end of life: challenges and support needs.","authors":"Wei-Lin Xue, Joy Swanson Ernst, Pi Ju Liu","doi":"10.1080/08946566.2025.2559666","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Adult Protective Services (APS) professionals frequently interact with clients who are seriously ill or dying as they investigate cases of elder abuse and self-neglect. This study explored the unique challenges and support needs of APS workers in these end-of-life contexts. Seven focus groups and one individual interview with APS professionals and individuals working closely with APS were conducted. Thematic analysis identified two overarching domains: (1) challenges - including family conflict, limited caregiver preparedness, client self-determination, challenges to service access, and emotional strain on professionals; and (2) support needed - such as improved interagency collaboration, peer and organizational support. Participants emphasized the emotional toll of witnessing client decline and death, and highlighted gaps in training, coordination, and workplace support. Findings highlight the need for targeted policy and practice reforms to better equip APS professionals addressing elder abuse and self-neglect at the end of life.</p>","PeriodicalId":46983,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect","volume":" ","pages":"1-28"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5000,"publicationDate":"2025-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect","FirstCategoryId":"102","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1080/08946566.2025.2559666","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"GERONTOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Adult Protective Services (APS) professionals frequently interact with clients who are seriously ill or dying as they investigate cases of elder abuse and self-neglect. This study explored the unique challenges and support needs of APS workers in these end-of-life contexts. Seven focus groups and one individual interview with APS professionals and individuals working closely with APS were conducted. Thematic analysis identified two overarching domains: (1) challenges - including family conflict, limited caregiver preparedness, client self-determination, challenges to service access, and emotional strain on professionals; and (2) support needed - such as improved interagency collaboration, peer and organizational support. Participants emphasized the emotional toll of witnessing client decline and death, and highlighted gaps in training, coordination, and workplace support. Findings highlight the need for targeted policy and practice reforms to better equip APS professionals addressing elder abuse and self-neglect at the end of life.
期刊介绍：
The Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect is the peer-reviewed quarterly journal that explores the advances in research, policy and practice, and clinical and ethical issues surrounding the abuse and neglect of older people. This unique forum provides state-of-the-art research and practice that is both international and multidisciplinary in scope. The journal"s broad, comprehensive approach is only one of its strengths—it presents training issues, research findings, case studies, practice and policy issues, book and media reviews, commentary, and historical background on a wide range of topics. Readers get tools and techniques needed for better detecting and responding to actual or potential elder abuse and neglect.
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