Collaboration is Essential: King County's Response to a Case of Elder Abuse and Exploitation

An older man was befriended by a woman in King County, Washington. He moved into her basement. She abused and exploited him. This article describes the facts of the case, the missed opportunities for intervention, and some effective collaborative remedies. The case is a backdrop to describe the larger systemic response to elder abuse, and the roles of the various disciplines in a case of elder abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation. The authors encourage readers to become involved in the community's response to older victims, on both an individual and systems level.