Trends in Adult Protection: a Social Work perspective
Adults with impaired cognitive capacity, such as elderly people with dementia, continue to be subject to abuse, neglect and exploitation. Yet Adult protection legislation which has been introduced in most Western countries over the past two decades is under threat both from neoliberal forces and from professional and community groups. Opponents of current formal adult protection arrangements portray them as overly intrusive, anti family, demeaning and disempowering for the vulnerable adult. Supporters see these attacks as misguided, self-interested and threatening to an important area of welfare and social justice; state commitment to protection of vulnerable adults from abuse, neglect and exploitation.
This paper will offer a critical social work ‘take’ on models of adult protection in the light of current trends.