When an individual 60 years of age or older is suspected to be the victim of abuse or neglect, Allegheny County Protective Services investigates and, if the allegation is substantiated, connects the individual to supportive services. This data brief describes trends in reports and investigations of older adult abuse and neglect from 2015 through 2018.
Key findings include:
- Reports of abuse or neglect of older adults increased 61% from fiscal year 2015-16 to 2017-18. Allegheny County saw a steeper increase in reports per 10,000 people than the state as a whole.
- During the same period, the number of investigations decreased in Allegheny County (down 18%) as did the number of substantiated cases (down 15%).
- Allegheny County Protective Services performed better than the state in meeting recommended timeframes for report investigations and completions.