Abuse in Later Life Program

The Enhanced Training and Services to End Abuse in Later Life Program (Abuse in Later Life Program) funds projects that support a comprehensive approach to addressing elder abuse in their communities. These projects will provide training to criminal justice professionals to enhance their ability to address elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation; provide cross-training opportunities to professionals working with older victims; establish or support a coordinated community response to elder abuse; and provide or enhance services for victims who are 50 years of age or older.

The term “elder abuse” means any action against a person who is 50 years of age or older that constitutes the willful: (A) infliction of injury, unreasonable confinement, intimidation, or cruel punishment with resulting physical harm, pain, or mental anguish, or (B) deprivation by a person, including a caregiver, of goods or services with the intent to cause physical harm, mental anguish, or mental illness. See 34 U.S.C. § 12291(a)(11).

Eligible applicants are limited to: states, units of local government, tribal governments or tribal organizations, population specific organizations with demonstrated experience in assisting individuals over 50 years of age, victim service providers with demonstrated experience in addressing domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, and state, tribal, or territorial domestic violence or sexual assault coalitions.

In 2023, the Abuse in Later Life Program gave out three awards totaling $1.48 million.

Once posted, the solicitation to apply for this program can be found on OVW’s website. Members of the public can also sign up for notifications on that website, and grant announcements are posted to OVW’s Twitter.

This program is authorized by 34 U.S.C. § 12421.