Core Pillar #1: Preventing Elder Abuse and Neglect

Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, Department of Family Medicine

Elder abuse is a problem affecting roughly one in six people over the age of 60 worldwide1. The Division of Geriatrics at UCI School of Medicine is at the forefront of combating elder abuse through innovative research, education and advocacy.

Our division has secured funding from the Administration for Community Living to expand Adult Protective Services and Public Guardian case management and social services in our region. We are also committed to educating healthcare professionals about the signs and symptoms of elder abuse and providing training on best practices for prevention and intervention. Our division houses two centers, the Center of Excellence on Elder Abuse and Neglect and the Elder Abuse Forensic Center, to help further these efforts.

Center of Excellence on Elder Abuse and Neglect

The UCI Center of Excellence on Elder Abuse and Neglect is committed to eliminating elder abuse. The center was established with a grant from the Archstone Foundation and is a first-of-its-kind program with the goal of promoting aging with dignity and eliminating fear of aging. 

In partnership with the Elder Abuse Forensic Center, the Center of Excellence brings together experts from various fields to investigate cases of elder abuse, provide expert testimony and develop strategies for prevention.

Center of Excellence website
A doctor meeting with a patient in their office

Elder Abuse Forensic Center

Launched in 2003, the UCI Elder Abuse Forensic Center is staffed by professionals from legal, medical, social services and law enforcement agencies. Forensic Center members conduct case reviews, check in-home medical and mental status, perform evidentiary investigations, record victim interviews, educate, consult and conduct research.

By bringing these experts together, we aim to better understand, identify and treat elder abuse, determine more efficient ways to successfully prosecute elder abuse cases, and support the prevention of elder abuse through greater awareness and education among those professionals who work with older and disabled adults.

Learn more about the Elder Abuse Forensic Center
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1 Yon, Y.,  Mikton, C. R., Gassoumis, Z. D., Wilber, K. H. (2017, February 1). Elder Abuse Prevalence in Community Settings: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. The Lancet Global Health. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28104184/