The state provides some rules and money. Counties can devise their own tactics.

Dane County, wealthier than most, uses $211,000 in local tax money annually for elder abuse investigators — positions unique to Dane and Milwaukee counties — and spends federal money for an elder victims' advocate.

In smaller counties, state-funded Adult Protective Services investigates abuse reports for anyone over age 18.

Dane County will also spend $744,000 in local money this year for something other counties don't have — case workers at 15 senior centers and agencies, putting help closer to where elders live.

Serving elders is harder in rural counties, which have less money and often deliver services offered by charities or private groups.

Dane County's Fiduciary Abuse Specialist Team includes prosecutors, social workers, financial counselors, banks who talk about suspicious transactions and preventing scams. The county has developed memorandums of understanding with banks that let financial institutions share private information with law enforcement. The county's Multidisciplinary Team is a forum for human services, health care and law enforcement to discuss cases of abuse and neglect.

But even Dane County doesn't commit the people and money needed to help the majority of elder victims suffering in silence or — just as serious — those who refuse assistance, officials concede.

"Trust takes time," Dane County Human Services Director Lynn Green said. "It takes lots of time, lots of staff time. (But) this is difficult to accomplish when high service numbers are used to judge worthiness of program funding."

The county's three elder abuse investigators — Scott Martin, Brenda Ziegler and Ann Dorschel — said they set priorites. They lack time to coax those who won't report or refuse aid.

"We're not out turning over rocks," said county Department of Human Services spokesman David Carlson.