Elder Courts: A Growing Trend

About one in seven older Americans living outside institutions have experienced physical, psychological or financial abuse, according to a 2011 government study. This chilling statistic, which is probably lower than the actual number, has led to the creation of the first "elder court", located in Contra Costa County, California. Among the services offered is a volunteer senior peer counselor who supports older adults through the process. The idea is spreading to other areas of the country as the number of restraining orders against children and other family members increases.