A Cross-Sectional Evaluation of the Mahoning County, Ohio’s Mandatory Reporters of Adult Protective Services

Adult protective services (APS) are an emerging key component of the aging network. The current research examines Mahoning County, Ohio’s system using snowball sampling of mandatory reporters working in the county ( n = 240). Descriptive data and thematic analyses of responses revealed five primary themes: education, reporting process, follow-through, communication, and relationships. Demographic information collected about the participants included gender, age, years of experience, highest level of education, and current profession. Participants reported confidence in their knowledge of elder abuse and neglect. A majority of participants had reported suspected elder abuse to APS (51.2%). Recommendations include increased staffing, increased education of the role of APS and the rest of the Aging Network, and improved communication—within ethical guidelines—of outcomes from reports of suspected elder abuse, neglect, or exploitation. At this time, the Mahoning County’s APS does not meet the new standards set forth by the Administration for Community Living guidelines.