When elder mistreatment is suspected, the nurse should report findings to which agency?

• A. Adult Protective Services
• B. Social Security Administration
• C. Central Intake Unit
• D. Department of Education

Answer: (A)

When suspected elder mistreatment is identified, the key action is to report it to the agency that protects adults and coordinates protective services. Adult Protective Services is the appropriate place because they investigate abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation of elders and arrange safety measures, support, and placement as needed. Nurses are typically mandated reporters and must notify this agency promptly to trigger a protective response and ensure the elder’s safety.

The other options don’t fit because they don’t handle safeguarding adults: the Social Security Administration deals with benefits, not abuse investigations; a Central Intake Unit may exist as a reporting channel in some systems but isn’t the agency responsible for investigation and protection; and the Department of Education focuses on education, not elder welfare. Reporting should follow any jurisdiction-specific timelines to ensure swift intervention.