Coordination and Elder Abuse: Development of Inter-Agency Protocols in New South Wales

• Published in: Australasian journal on ageing Vol. 19; no. 3; pp. 118 - 124
• Main Authors: Sadler, Paul, Sorensen, Glen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.08.2000
• Subjects: Aged; Aged care; Crime victims; New South Wales Inter-Agency Protocol on Abuse of Older People; New South Wales: Social conditions; Remote areas; Rural conditions; Violence; Vocational education and training
• ISSN: 1440-6381; 1741-6612
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1741-6612.2000.tb00162.x

. Improving coordination is a key concern for aged and community care services. Dealing with abuse, neglect and exploitation of older people requires effective coordination between agencies. This paper reviews the implementation of the NSW Inter‐Agency Protocol and the development of local protocols, using existing service provision systems, via a statewide training program. The protocol development process is an example of moving agencies from informal collaboration to formal coordination processes. The training program was successful and the local protocols provide flexibility to utilise the full range of providers and professional skills through the appointment of assessment teams including the most appropriate members from local agencies. There are weaknesses to this approach, including difficulties involving all key agencies in the protocol development and its reliance on busy existing providers and an incomplete service infrastructure. The effectiveness of the protocol in addressing individual cases of abuse requires further examination.