About the Center

UC Irvine's Center of Excellence on Elder Abuse and Neglect is committed to eliminating abuse of the elderly. Established with a grant from the Archstone Foundation, the Center of Excellence on Elder Abuse and Neglect is part of the School of Medicine’s Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology. It is a first-of-its-kind program that strives to promote aging with dignity and eliminate aging with fear.

Locally, the center provides medical, forensic, and victim services to abused and neglected seniors, living in the community or in long-term care facilities, and serves as a “living laboratory” of innovative approaches.

Statewide and nationally, the center serves as a source of technical assistance, multidisciplinary training, useful research, and relevant policy.

The center offers assistance through:

Direct services: We provide medical assessments, forensic evaluations, and interdisciplinary case planning in partnership with Orange County Adult Protective Services. We are the home of the world's first Elder Abuse Forensic Center which brings together physicians, psychologists, law enforcement, social workers and others to handle complex cases of elder mistreatment and help keep older adults safe. 

Technical assistance: Our website offers technical assistance and resources related to elder abuse and neglect to assist professionals and the public at large. 

Conducting research:  Through the research of the faculty of the Division of Geriatric Medicine & Gerontology, the center provides the bridge between direct service and academics. Research has been funded through the National Institute on Aging, National Institute on Justice, and the California Department of Health and Human Services.

Providing education:  The center hosts the Elder Abuse Training which provides training on issues regarding elder mistreatment.  Multidisciplinary experts conduct discipline-specific training seminars for law enforcement, legal, medical, and social service professionals.  

The Center of Excellence administered the U.S. Administration on Aging’s  National Center on Elder Abuse from August 2011 through August 2014.

Learn about our Center of Excellence's milestones (PDF).

Download our printable brochure (PDF).

Learn more about the School of Medicine’s Division of Geriatric Medicine & Gerontology.