Assessing the Federal Response to Elder Abuse, While the Opioid Crisis Rages On

The opioid crisis directly connects to elder abuse: grandparents may be caring for grand-children of parents addicted to opioids; and family members, caregivers, and older adults may misuse opioids. The Elder Justice Act, the Older Americans Act, the Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1981, and the Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act dictate responses to such opioid misuse. The Administration for Community Living, the Administration on Aging, the Office of Community Services, and the Department of Justice administer these laws. This article describes the laws, their status, and programs these agencies authorize.