Mandated reporting of abuse/maltreatment of older adults: A primer for counselors

Maltreatment of older adults is a serious and underrecognized problem. Every state and 6 Canadian provinces have enacted legislation to prefect vulnerable older adults from abuse, and many require that mental health professionals report disclosures of abuse to authorities. However, these laws have received little attention in the counseling literature. This article examines the scope of maltreatment of older persons and describes the content of elder abuse and elder maltreatment laws, with special focus on counselors' responsibilities to report maltreatment to authorities. It concludes with strategies for assessing maltreatment and with implications of these laws for confidentiality and informed consent.