ACL Elder Justice Resource Centers’ Research
In addition to the NCEA, the Administration for Community Living (ACL) supports other resource centers, several of which conduct or participate in research studies. Please see a list of recent research activities engaged in by our ACL affiliates:
Adult Protective Services Technical Assistance Resource Center (APS TARC)
Evaluation of Adult Protective Service Programs
APS TARC is conducting the first-ever national evaluation of APS. This plan incorporates an APS Logic Model as a theoretical framework and evaluates three components: 1) APS policies by state; 2) state agency APS service delivery; and 3) state patterns and relationships of APS program characteristics, key policies and practices, and APS system-level outcomes. Learn more here.
National Adult Maltreatment Reporting System
The National Adult Maltreatment Reporting System (NAMRS) is a national database of information and data on APS programs. Each year, NAMRS collects data on APS investigations of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of older adults and adults with disabilities, as well as information on the administration of APS programs. State programs can request data from NAMRS to help analyze and compare key statistics.
Adult Protective Services Study on the Impact of COVID-19
This is a report on the impact of the pandemic on APS’ programs, cases, workload, and staff. Learn more here.
The Impact of the Opioid Epidemic on Adult Protective Services
This study investigated the nature, extent, and challenges confronted by APS staff in providing services to clients affected by opioids. Learn more here.
Predicting the Risk of Adult Maltreatment (PRAM)
This project explores the use of predictive analytics (artificial intelligence, machine learning, and other “big data” tools) as one component of a broader approach to predict and prevent elder mistreatment. Learn more here.
APS Guidelines Implementation and Technical Assistance Pilot Program
The APS Guidelines Implementation and Technical Assistance (TA) Pilot project conducted by New Editions Consulting, Inc. in collaboration with the National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA) developed a survey to assess the extent to which states have tried to integrate the 2016 Guidelines for Adult Protective Services (APS) into state policies and practice.
For more information about these projects, visit here.
National Indigenous Elder Justice Initiative (NIEJI)
Tribal Elder Abuse Services Survey
The Tribal Elder Abuse Services Survey, sponsored by AARP, focuses on the perceptions and availability of community elder services. Data will help inform planning for tribal elder justice programs, an online directory and interactive map, and training and resources to meet the needs of American Indian Tribes, Alaskan Villages, and Hawaiian Homesteads.
Native Elder Maltreatment Survey
The Native Elder Maltreatment Survey (NEMS) helps Native American Tribes, Alaskan Villages, and Hawaiian Homesteads to understand the prevalence of elder mistreatment, neglect, and financial exploitation in their respective communities. The survey uses the Hwalek-Sengstock Elder Abuse Screening Test to assess if Elders are at high risk for mistreatment. The survey also uses the Native Elder Life Scale (NELS), which assesses neglect and financial exploitation.
For more information about these projects, visit here.
Women’s Institute for a Secure Retirement (WISER)
Benefit U Project
WISER initiated the Benefit U project to assess the feasibility of an online financial technology platform to serve as a virtual human relations department for entrepreneurs, self-employed workers, independent contractors, freelancers, and other workers without access to benefit resources.
The Latina Savings Project
The Latina Savings Project (2017-2019) was designed to encourage savings among low- and moderate-income Latinas. The program focused on helping participants understand their own finances, overcome barriers to saving, develop savings goals, and open a savings account.
For more information about these projects, visit here.
The National Long-Term Care Ombudsmen Resource Center (LTCOP)
Process Evaluation (2019)
The LTCOP undertook a process evaluation of the ombudsman program to support program planning and improvement by assessing the LTCOP’s implementation at the federal, state, and local levels. The Final Report for the Process Evaluation of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program examines the program’s structure and operations, use of resources to carry out its legislative mandates, the nature of program partnerships, and program quality assurance activities. Learn more here.
Research Briefs
The LTCOP has developed several research briefs on the long-term ombudsman program, protecting resident rights, and strengthening Aging and Disability networks. Learn more here.
National Evaluation of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program: Local Data Collection (2018)
As part of the LTCOP national evaluation, local/regional ombudsmen were asked to complete an online survey about their experiences with the program. In a 30-minute webinar, speakers provided a description of the evaluation and its activities, a demonstration of how to access the online survey, and information on how to reach out to the team for technical support.
Learn more here.
Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program Training Standards Workgroup Report
This report summarizes proposals of model national training standards for long-term care ombudsman programs that were developed by a workgroup of Ombudsmen, Ombudsman program representatives, and other stakeholders. The central focus was to develop proposals for a minimum number of initial training hours, content of the training, and a minimum number of hours for annual in-service training for all representatives of the Office. Learn more here.