Pioneering Contributions
Georgia Anetzberger, PhD, ACSW, stands as a trailblazer in the realm of elder abuse research, scholarship, and advocacy. With over three decades of dedicated service, she has pioneered groundbreaking initiatives that have reshaped how society perceives and addresses elder mistreatment. Her work has not only raised awareness of this critical issue but has also catalyzed concrete actions to safeguard the well-being of vulnerable older adults.
Dr. Anetzberger's early research challenged prevailing assumptions about elder abuse dynamics. Her dissertation, published in 1987, delved into the intricate relationships between adult children who had physically abused an older parent. By spotlighting cases where abuse stemmed from complex emotional and financial dependencies rather than just physical frailty, she revolutionized the discourse on elder mistreatment.
Through her extensive publications and research endeavors, Dr. Anetzberger has expanded the horizons of elder abuse scholarship. She has explored multifaceted dimensions of the issue, ranging from psychological abuse to financial exploitation, from the intersectionality of elder abuse and domestic violence to the challenges posed by Alzheimer's disease. Her comprehensive approach has deepened our understanding of elder mistreatment and informed more effective prevention and intervention strategies.
Dr. Anetzberger's has played a pivotal role in shaping practice and policy in the field of elder abuse. By serving on expert panels and roundtables convened by prestigious institutions like the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the National Institute of Justice, she has helped chart pathways for policy reforms and innovative interventions. Her insights have been instrumental in the development of key frameworks, such as the Elder Justice Roadmap, which has guided national and international efforts to combat elder mistreatment.
Career Highlights
Throughout her illustrious career, Dr. Anetzberger has made significant contributions across various sectors, including academia, public service, non-profit organizations, and the private sector. Her professional roles have been diverse and impactful, ranging from serving as an Instructor at Kent State University's Department of Sociology and Anthropology to holding leadership positions such as Executive Director at the Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging in Cleveland. Additionally, she has held roles such as Director of Research Training and Information Transfer Core at the Alzheimer’s Center, University Hospitals of Cleveland, and Vice President of Community Services at the Benjamin Rose Institute.
Dr. Anetzberger has nurtured the next generation of scholars and practitioners in the field of aging and elder mistreatment, as a mentor and leader. Her guidance has empowered countless individuals to pursue impactful research, advocate for systemic change, and uphold the highest standards of professionalism. Through her editorial roles, educational initiatives, and organizational leadership positions, she has fostered a vibrant community of scholars and practitioners dedicated to advancing the cause of elder justice.
Dr. Anetzberger helped establish the National Network of State Elder Justice Coalitions, Ohio Coalition for Adult Protective Services, Ohio Elder Abuse Commission, Consortium Against Adult Abuse, and Greater Cleveland Elder Abuse/Domestic Violence Roundtable, among them the oldest continuous elder abuse networks in the country. She currently serves on the Advisory Board for the National Center on Elder Abuse & Neglect. Dr. Anetzberger is the immediate Past-Editor of the Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect and Past-President of the National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse.
Biographic Information
Dr. Anetzberger was born in Ohio and is an esteemed member of the Ohio NASW Chapter. Her academic journey is marked by notable achievements, including earning a Bachelor of Science in Social Work from Ohio State University in 1966, a Master of Arts in Anthropology from Case Western Reserve University in 1971, a Master of Science in Social Administration from Case Western Reserve University's Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences with a focus on Management and Aging in 1980, and finally, a PhD from the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences in 1987, with a concentration in program planning and policy, aging, and elder abuse.
Significant Achievements and Awards.
As a sought-after presenter at numerous forums and conferences by all levels of government, nationally and internationally, and academic and non-profit organizers alike, Dr. Anetzberger has been throughout her career extremely generous with her time and commitment to educate, collaborate, and advocate for policy changes that advance practice, policy and scholarship in the field of elder mistreatment. She has served on expert panels and roundtables that led to blueprints for policy and practice advances at the national level, such as the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, National Institute of Justice, for example, the Elder Justice Roadmap, the international level, for example the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse, and state and local levels, for example, the application of the Elder Justice Roadmap for the State of Ohio.
Dr. Anetzberger is also an expert on the intersectionality of elder abuse and domestic violence and protective services for adults. She has been recognized as State Social Worker of the Year by the Ohio Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, has served as State delegate to the White House Conference on Aging, and has been recognized nationally (for example, the American Society on Aging) and internationally (International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse).
Publications
Anetzberger, G. J. (1987). The Etiology of Elder by Adult Offspring. Charles C Thomas, Publisher.
Anetzberger, G. J. (2004). The Clinical Management of Elder Abuse. Routledge and CRC Press.
“Development and Implementation of Online Training Modules on Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation” to Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect. Co-authored by F.K. Ejaz and M. Rose.
“Elder Abuse and Neglect”. In Nursing for Wellness in Older Adults, 9th Edition by C.A. Miller. Philadelphia: Wolters Klumer. Co-authored by C.A. Miller.
“Elder Abuse Multidisciplinary Teams” in Elder Abuse: Research, Practice, and Policy, edited by X. Dong. New York: Springer.
“Intersection of Public Health and Non-Traditional Partners and Approaches to Address Elder Abuse” in Elder Mistreatment and the Public’s Health, edited by P.B. Teaster and J. Hall. New York: Springer.
“Community-based Services” in Functional Performance in Older Adults, 4th Edition edited by B. Bonder and V.D. Bellow-Haas. Philadelphia: F.A. Davis.
“Culture, Attitudes, and Ethics” in Functional Performance in Older Adults, 4th Edition edited by B. Bonder and V.D. Bellow-Haas. Philadelphia: F.A. Davis. Co-authored by B. Bonder.
“Epilogue” in Elder Abuse for Nurses: What Nurses Need to Know and Can Do About It by C.A. Miller (pp. 311-314). New York: Springer.
“Elder Abuse and Neglect” in Nursing for Wellness in Older Adults, 7th Edition by C.A. Miller (pp. 162-188). Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer. Co-authored by C.A. Miller.
“Next Steps: Documentation and Accessing Community Healthcare Resources” in Aging and Money: Reducing Risk of Financial Exploitation and Protecting Financial Resources, edited by R. Factora (pp. 75-90). New York: Humana Press. Co-authored by F.K. Ejaz, A. Bukach, and D.M. Bass.
“Abuse, Interpersonal: III, Elder Abuse” in Encyclopedia of Bioethics, 4th Edition (Vol. 1), edited by B. Jennings (pp. 69-74). Farmington Hills, MI: Macmillan Reference USA.