Gerontology

Research laboratory devoted to addressing abuse in later life and elder abuse by creating resource-rich, connected communities.

Mission

Researchers and health officials across Virginia, the U.S., and the globe are sounding the alarm: Cases of abuse have skyrocketed (Jain, 2021; Peitzmeier, et al., 2021; UN, 2021). Described as “a pandemic within a pandemic” (Evans et al., 2020), evidence shows the COVID-19 pandemic led to a stark increase in the number of cases of elder abuse (Chang & Levy, 2021). Even before the pandemic altered life as we knew it, cases of elder abuse had been steadily rising. For each case of elder abuse that gets reported, there may be as many as 42 cases that are never reported, depending on the type of abuse (Lachs & Berman, 2011). 

The Abuse in Later Life Lab has a mission to mitigate challenges and barriers to reporting elder abuse; to develop and measure training interventions practitioners, older adults, caregivers and “first-line” community members; and to disseminate tools and data to strengthen services that help keep us safe at any age and at every age.

Currently staffed by a team of students and faculty, the Lab provides a number of opportunities for student involvement. We welcome additional student engagement with this important work.