Fifty years of U.S. federal elder justice policy: progress, leadership, and continuing challenges

Over the past five decades, the United States has moved from virtually no recognition of elder mistreatment to an evolving framework of elder justice policy. This article traces major legislative milestones, including the establishment of Adult Protective Services under Title XX, the Elder Justice Act of 2010, and pandemic-era initiatives, while highlighting the pivotal roles played by both elected leaders and grassroots advocates. Persistent challenges - including chronic underfunding of protective programs, inadequate data, insufficient training of professionals, and tensions in intervention approaches - underscore the ongoing need for policy innovation. A brief forward-looking discussion considers pathways to a more inclusive and adequately resourced elder justice system.