“Elder abuse was first described in 1975 when simultaneous reports of “grandmother beating” appeared.” (Collins, 1290) When we discuss elder abuse, we are not just referring to physical beatings, but also sexual abuse, verbal abuse, neglect, financial abuse, and violations of their rights as human beings. Across the entire senior community population, the majority of abuse occurs in the home, the home may be an institutional setting such as a nursing home. “Currently, 5% to 10% of the elderly population resides in institutions.” (Collins. 1292) The statements educate us to understand the definition of an offender within institutions; this includes and does not exclude staff members, other residents and even visitors. Then the question is presented: What policies are implemented to promote efforts to protect this community of seniors so that they feel safe in their homes and communities? As a nation, are we using organized educational training methods to bring awareness and resources to all those involved in institutional care settings? President Harry Truman held the first national conference on aging in 1950. At that time “plans for “protective service units” were handed over to the Department of Health Education and Welfare.” (Lindberg, 107) The White House Conference on Aging came into discussion in 1961, at this time it brought national awareness and congressional efforts to support this overall goal of elder abuse prevention. In 1974 the Social Security Act allowed adult protective services under Title XX, encouraging some states to independently and compulsorily report abuse within the elderly community. (Lindberg, 108) “Although education can help increase the number of people interested in adult protection work, specific training is needed to work with adults who have experienced abuse and neglect.” (Connell-Carrick, 192) The training and policies were implemented over a 60-year period, but no concrete law was put in place until 2010. The Elder Justice Act or EJA is new to our country and is now part of the Affordable Care Act. As of March 23, 2010, the EJA was signed into law by President Obama. “The EJA is the first federal law” to specifically state that it is the right of older adults to be free from abuse, neglect and exploitation. "" (Lindberg, 105). These policies and laws now strengthen the protections provided to the senior community in the United States that they rightly deserve. The Geriatric Social Work Initiative is a national project that has provided tools to train social workers working in the field of gerontology, providing them with the training to provide exceptional services to their clientele.