The multiplicity of the governmental and programmatic reaction to elder abuse can be a challenge for social workers (Donovan & Regehr, 2010). The ability to oppose abuse and recognize the status quo is creating disagreements while equalizing older adults to children in demand for protection (Donovan & Regehr, 2010). According to Podnieks (2008), social workers may misunderstand ageism in many situations where the perpetrator is supportive, when minimizing the abuse by the abuser or victim because of a belief in the family sanctity values, where there is no or limited information or an absence of understanding or because of language barriers, cognitive limitations, or time constraints, or when the victim disagrees he or she might have the fear
