scholarly journals Recognizing and Intervening on Elder Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation in the Age of COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 73-73
Author(s):  
Pi-Ju Liu ◽  
Pamela Teaster
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Elder Abuse ◽  
Protective Services ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Future Health ◽  
Elder Mistreatment ◽  
Adult Protective Services ◽  
Age Related

Abstract The rapid outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has led to a global pandemic. Public health measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, such as social distancing and self-quarantine, have drastically altered people’s lives and led to social isolation, financial instability, and disrupted access to healthcare and social services. Older adults have not only borne the brunt of the highest COVID-19 mortality rates, but recent studies also describe growing reports of elder mistreatment. It is necessary to attend to these age-related disparities during the remainder of the COVID-19 pandemic and future health crises. This symposium includes four presentations on researchers’ findings in elder mistreatment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. E-Shien Chang will compare prevalence of elder mistreatment before and since the pandemic, and highlight associated risk and protective factors during the pandemic. Dr. Lena Makaroun will examine changes in elder mistreatment risk factors among caregivers during the pandemic. Dr. Pamela Teaster will present Adult Protective Services’ (APS) policy and practice changes in response to the pandemic to demonstrate the pandemic’s impact on service providers. Lastly, Dr. Pi-Ju (Marian) Liu will appraise elder mistreatment victims’ awareness of COVID-19 and their unmet needs during the pandemic. Following the four presentations, Dr. Pamela Teaster will moderate a discussion on how elder mistreatment is a growing concern, especially during the pandemic, and what service providers are doing to protect older adults.

scholarly journals Abuse of and Intervention for Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 86-86
Author(s):  
Pamela Teaster ◽  
Cory Bolkan
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Elder Abuse ◽  
The United States ◽  
Protective Services ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Adult Protective Services ◽  
Service Staff ◽  
State And Local ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

Abstract Beginning in the United States in 2020, SARS-CoV-2 lead to unprecedented changes in the lives of both younger and older people. Efforts to mitigate the spread of the novel coronavirus, which included physical distancing and self-quarantine not only upended the lives of many people but also created natural laboratory conditions for the mistreatment of older adults. Exploring the mistreatment of older adults during the pandemic presented an unprecedented opportunity to examine perspectives of service providers and affected older adults. This symposium offers four perspectives on this subject. Dr. Karen Roberto and colleagues will present changes and challenges that COVID-19 brought for Adult Protectives Service staff and the vulnerable adults whom they serve. Ms. Lori Smetanka and colleagues will present changes and challenges that COVID-19 created for state and local Long-Term Care Ombudsman. Dr. Holly Ramsey-Klawsnik and Ms. Tammy Seaver will report on how the pandemic affected Nevada Adult Protective Services clients, casework, and staff. Finally, Dr. Pamela Teaster and colleagues will discuss how older adults experienced exploitation attempts during the early months of the pandemic. Dr. Cory Bolkan will begin the discussion, highlighting how conditions brought about by COVID-19 both enabled and thwarted efforts to address elder abuse.

scholarly journals BARRIERS AND SOLUTIONS TO IMPROVE AGE-RELATED SERVICE ACCESS IN UTAH: A QUALITATIVE STUDY

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S884-S885
Author(s):  
Alex T Schiwal ◽  
Elizabeth B Fauth
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Service Access ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Time Model ◽  
Related Services ◽  
Research Orientation ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Related Service

Abstract Utah is projected to be in the top 10 states for growth in the aging population, but it is among the most rural. Local and regional contexts guide policy and practice, and these perspectives will inform solutions as more older adults require services in rural and other under-served areas in the coming decades. Guided by Bronfenbrenner’s Process-Person-Context-Time model, this study used a qualitative participatory research orientation involving stakeholders in Utah’s aging service system in order to identify local barriers and solutions to accessing rural aging services. The stakeholders included service providers, caregivers, older adults, state-administrators, and other community members. There were 3 male and 7 female participants ranging in age from 40 to 80. Thematic analysis revealed that communities faced barriers common to rural areas (local service insufficiencies, distance and time concerns, systemic issues such as healthcare and ageism, finances - both personal and programmatic were deemed a recurrent barrier, in addition to transportation issues. However, participants reported assets in rural areas, such as a strong sense of belonging in the community and creative problem solving. Solutions for improving access to age-related services included strategies for making information more available, publicized, and centralized and increasing access to telehealth or internet-delivered services and health information. These barriers and solutions were nested across the levels of context in Bronfenbrenner’s model, with both person, time, and in interactions (processes) having influence, but localized analysis of the barriers is necessary to ensure that the solutions are appropriate in a specific context.

scholarly journals A Scoping Review of Financial Elder Exploitation Interventions

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 323-324
Author(s):  
Stephanie Skees
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Elder Abuse ◽  
Protective Services ◽  
Adult Protective Services ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Financial Exploitation ◽  
Attorneys General ◽  
Universal Definition ◽  
Mature Market

Abstract Elder financial exploitation (EFE), defined by the National Center for Elder Abuse (2021) as “the misappropriation of an older person’s money or property,” is a continuing public health crisis shown to cost individuals at least $2.9 billion a year (MetLife Mature Market Institute, 2011). Many believe this impact will increase exponentially due to the effects of COVID-19. In fact, a recent study conducted by Chang & Levy (2021) found that the prevalence of elder abuse as a whole increased from 1 in 10 older adults to 1 in 5 in the past year. Although increased collaboration between state attorneys general, Adult Protective Services, and financial institutions has driven progress in the field; there is still little known regarding EFE interventions. To address this issue, this study conducts a scoping review of the EFE intervention literature. This approach was chosen over a systematic review primarily due to the lack of a universal definition of EFE, as well as the limited number of studies available delineating between EFE and elder abuse as a whole. The main findings of the review reveal that current EFE intervention practices are focused on preventing abuse before it occurs by addressing risk factors for abuse in older adults; and are largely reliant on Adult Protective Services and the legal system. This finding is significant because state policies differ in their qualifications of EFE, thus leaving many older adults vulnerable and unprotected. Further interventions that address EFE while it is occurring and alignment across governing bodies are needed.

scholarly journals IT’S ACTUALLY WORSE THAN IT LOOKS: IDENTIFYING ABUSE-RELATED INJURIES AMONG APS CLIENTS

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S575-S575
Author(s):  
Jeanine Yonashiro-Cho ◽  
Zach Gassoumis ◽  
Kathleen Wilber ◽  
Diana Homeier
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Injury Severity ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Elder Abuse ◽  
Accidental Injury ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Physically Abused ◽  
Tests Of Association ◽  
Matched Comparison

Abstract While recent work has described elder abuse injuries seen in medical contexts, most abuse determinations are made by community-based health and social services practitioners in the field. Little is known about the types of injuries present among victims who do not seek medical care. The purpose of this study was to identify and describe injuries more likely to occur through abuse, rather than accidental injury, among older adults seen in non-medical settings. An observational, matched-comparison group design was used to compare findings among physically abused APS clients (n=61) with those from non-abused older adults (n=104) seeking usual-care in a Geriatrics clinic. Forensic nurse examiners conducted full-body examinations of subjects and collected data on injury diagnoses, locations, and characteristics. Descriptive statistics and bivariate tests of association were used to analyze differences in injury presentation between groups. Though 21.8% of APS clients had no observable injuries upon examination, as a group, they were more likely than non-abused elders to be injured (p<0.05) and had more injuries present (p<0.01). Abuse victims were also more likely to have at least one upper extremity abrasion (p<0.05) or a diagnosis of ecchymosis (p<0.01), swelling (p<0.05) or tenderness (p<0.05) in the head, neck, or maxillofacial region. Because physical abuse may not result in injury to victims, screening protocols are needed to improve abuse detection. The presence of injuries among older adults at-risk for abuse warrant further evaluation or queries from medical and social service providers, regardless of injury severity.

scholarly journals Leveraging Prehospital Care to Address Elder Mistreatment: Development of an Online Training for EMS

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 218-219
Author(s):  
Kristin Lees Haggerty ◽  
Melanie Miller ◽  
Dana Wardlaw ◽  
Athi Myint-U ◽  
Randi Campetti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
At Risk ◽  
Elder Abuse ◽  
Prehospital Care ◽  
Online Training ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Coordinated Care ◽  
Elder Mistreatment ◽  
Education Development ◽  
Adult Protective Services

Abstract Elder abuse affects an estimated 1 in 10 older adults in the US and has devastating consequences for their health and well-being yet is widely under-recognized. Prehospital emergency medical service (EMS) providers are particularly well-positioned to identify older adults who are at risk of or experiencing mistreatment, and to report and intervene as appropriate. However, many EMS providers across the country lack the training and tools required to facilitate consistent identification and intervention. Recognizing the critical need for easily accessible, comprehensive, and relevant training, Education Development Center received funding from RRF Foundation for Aging to develop and pilot test the Elder Mistreatment EMS Training Curriculum (EM-ETC). The EM-ETC aims to improve identification, referral, and linkage to coordinated care and support services for older adults who are at risk of mistreatment. In this presentation, we will describe our iterative and collaborative process for developing an interactive online training program for EMS providers. The training leverages the unique circumstances of prehospital care to prepare EMS providers to recognize and respond effectively to elder abuse and help them to fulfill state licensing requirements. We will present findings from our formative research comprising consultation with subject matter experts and state offices of EMS education, focus groups with EMS and Adult Protective Services providers, and user testing with EMS providers.

scholarly journals Age Differences in Elder Abuse Harm and Effective Services Offered by Adult Protective Services

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 669-670
Author(s):  
Pi-Ju Liu ◽  
Zachary Hass ◽  
Karen Conrad ◽  
Sara Stratton ◽  
Kendon Conrad
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Age Differences ◽  
Elder Abuse ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Protective Services ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
Adult Protective Services ◽  
Effective Interventions ◽  
Type Of Abuse

Abstract In this study, abuse, exploitation, and neglect (ANE) harm was measured by type of abuse using standardized items from the Identification, Services, and Outcomes (ISO) Matrix before Adult Protective Services (APS) interventions (pretest) and after APS interventions (posttest). Change scores from 1,472 older adults (average age 78-year-old; 57% female) and 591 younger adults (average age 53-year-old; 46% female) served by APS during the six months showed reduction of harm using posttest minus pretest. Nonetheless, older adult’s financial abuse harm (pretest=2.2, posttest=1.5) was higher than younger adults’ (pretest=1.5, posttest=1.2), while young adults scored higher in harm on all other types of abuse. Effective interventions differ by age group and by type of abuse, and will be discussed in detail. Results demonstrate the importance to consider vulnerable adult’s age and the etiology of abuse before implementing the services needed to effectively address ANE harm.

scholarly journals SERVICE PROVIDERS' PERSPECTIVES OF UNDERREPORTING ABUSE OF OLDER ADULTS IN ALBERTA, CANADA

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S934-S935
Author(s):  
Carla R Liepert ◽  
Christine Walsh ◽  
Kerstin Roger ◽  
Donna Goodridge ◽  
Michelle Ranville
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Elder Abuse ◽  
Adult Child ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Abuse Survivors ◽  
Rural And Remote ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Community Needs

Abstract Minimal research has investigated disclosure/non-disclosure of abuse of older adults. To address this gap, this exploratory, qualitative study gathered the perspectives on reporting of elder abuse from 10 service providers working with elder abuse survivors across Alberta. Face-to-face and online interviews were conducted, audio-recorded, transcribed, and thematically analyzed. Four major barriers to abuse disclosure for older adults were identified. First, complex parent/adult-child relationships reduce the likelihood of disclosure among older adults who are experiencing abuse perpetrated by a family member; the corollary is that disclosure for non-familial perpetrators results in higher rates of disclosure. Second, older adults residing in rural and remote locations face greater barriers to disclosure compared to those residing in urban/suburban settings. Third, older adults are unlikely to report even if they recognize that they are in a situation of abuse, as a consequence of their internalized ageist beliefs that policing and social services agencies have more pressing needs to address than their well-being. Finally, local policing bodies and legal authorities may inadequately serve older adults facing abuse, particularly in cases of non-physical abuse, due to prioritized client and community needs. This study highlights the need for additional supports and service provision for vulnerable older adults in Alberta, specifically for those residing in rural and remote regions and those dependent on family members. It also points to the critical need for a greater understanding and awareness of violence against older adults among the general public and those tasked with ensuring the safety and well-being of older adults.

scholarly journals Elder Mistreatment Victims during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Administrative Data from San Francisco Adult Protective Services

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pi-Ju Liu ◽  
Aining Wang ◽  
Laura M. Schwab-Reese ◽  
Sara K. Stratton
Keyword(s):  
San Francisco ◽  
Emotional Abuse ◽  
Unmet Needs ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Estimation Method ◽  
Protective Services ◽  
Elder Mistreatment ◽  
Adult Protective Services ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Medical Needs

AbstractThis study examined elder mistreatment victims’ experiences at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on their COVID-19 awareness and unmet needs. San Francisco Adult Protective Services (APS) caseworkers conducted phone interviews with clients or collaterals (client’s family, trusted other, or service provider) to inquire about clients’ awareness of COVID-19 and unmet needs. Nine-hundred-and-thirty-four (71%) of 1,313 APS’ past clients or their collaterals were interviewed, with 741 (79%) responding positively to COVID-19-awareness questions, and 697 (75%) having no unmet needs. Binary logistic regression with Firth adjusted maximum likelihood estimation method revealed that older persons (p < .05), self-neglectors (p < .05), and victims of neglect (p < .05) were less aware of COVID-19. Unmet needs varied by mistreatment type. Victims of isolation were more likely to have medical needs (p < .05), while victims of emotional abuse were more likely to report loneliness (p < .001). Case notes reflected clients who were well-prepared for the pandemic, versus those who required additional assistance to follow preventative measures of the COVID-19 pandemic to stay home. Although the majority of San Francisco APS’ past clients experienced no unmet needs at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the prolonged length and intensity of the pandemic could have exacerbated this vulnerable group’s situation. Collaboration between service providers is key in assisting victims experiencing unmet needs to live safely in a public health crisis, especially underserved victims of specific ethnic backgrounds.

scholarly journals SERVICE PROVIDERS' PERSPECTIVES OF UNDERREPORTING ABUSE OF OLDER ADULTS IN ALBERTA, CANADA

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S935-S935
Author(s):  
Carla R Liepert ◽  
Christine Walsh ◽  
Kerstin Roger ◽  
Donna Goodridge ◽  
Michelle Ranville
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Elder Abuse ◽  
Adult Child ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Abuse Survivors ◽  
Rural And Remote ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Community Needs

Abstract Minimal research has investigated disclosure/non-disclosure of abuse of older adults. To address this gap, this exploratory, qualitative study gathered the perspectives on reporting of elder abuse from 10 service providers working with elder abuse survivors across Alberta. Face-to-face and online interviews were conducted, audio-recorded, transcribed, and thematically analyzed. Four major barriers to abuse disclosure for older adults were identified. First, complex parent/adult-child relationships reduce the likelihood of disclosure among older adults who are experiencing abuse perpetrated by a family member; the corollary is that disclosure for non-familial perpetrators results in higher rates of disclosure. Second, older adults residing in rural and remote locations face greater barriers to disclosure compared to those residing in urban/suburban settings. Third, older adults are unlikely to report even if they recognize that they are in a situation of abuse, as a consequence of their internalized ageist beliefs that policing and social services agencies have more pressing needs to address than their well-being. Finally, local policing bodies and legal authorities may inadequately serve older adults facing abuse, particularly in cases of non-physical abuse, due to prioritized client and community needs. This study highlights the need for additional supports and service provision for vulnerable older adults in Alberta, specifically for those residing in rural and remote regions and those dependent on family members. It also points to the critical need for a greater understanding and awareness of violence against older adults among the general public and those tasked with ensuring the safety and well-being of older adults.

scholarly journals Elder Abuse Victims During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Administrative Data From San Francisco Adult Protective Services

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 74-74
Author(s):  
Pi-Ju Liu ◽  
Aining Wang ◽  
Laura Schwab-Reese ◽  
Sara Stratton
Keyword(s):  
San Francisco ◽  
Emotional Abuse ◽  
Unmet Needs ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Elder Abuse ◽  
Estimation Method ◽  
Protective Services ◽  
Adult Protective Services ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Medical Needs

Abstract This study examined elder mistreatment victims’ experiences at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. San Francisco Adult Protective Services (APS) caseworkers conducted phone interviews to inquire about clients’ awareness of COVID-19 and unmet needs. Nine-hundred-and-thirty-four (71%) of 1,313 APS’ past clients or their collaterals were interviewed, with 741 (79%) responding positively to COVID-19-awareness questions, and 697 (75%) having no unmet needs. Binary logistic regression with Firth adjusted maximum likelihood estimation method revealed that older persons (p &lt; .05), self-neglectors (p &lt; .05), and victims of neglect (p &lt; .05) were less aware of COVID-19. Unmet needs varied by mistreatment type. Victims of isolation were more likely to have medical needs (p &lt; .05), while victims of emotional abuse were more likely to report loneliness (p &lt; .001). Collaboration between service providers is key in assisting victims experiencing unmet needs to live safely in a public health crisis.

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