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Val Hoyle
U.S. Congresswoman | Oregon

Reporting of Elder Abuse

Idea Category: Smart Government

Problem

Currently, the Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS) has an “ad-hoc” system of investigating reports of elder abuse. With no standard, central intake software or investigatory protocol, and each regional and local office collects reports and performs investigations in a purely subjective manner. This leads to long investigation times, unpredictability for facilities and employees being investigated, and inconsistency in treatment and protection of one of our most vulnerable populations.

Solution

House Majority Leader Hoyle has championed legislation to standardize protocol and software for reporting and investigating allegations of elder abuse. By having a uniform and predictable report and investigation protocol, the state can ensure DHS' resources are being used in the most efficient and effective way possible, while still providing flexibility to acknowledge the nuance and sometimes subjective and emergency nature of elder abuse.