Screening and detection of elder abuse: Research opportunities and lessons learned from emergency geriatric care, intimate partner violence, and child abuse.

TitleScreening and detection of elder abuse: Research opportunities and lessons learned from emergency geriatric care, intimate partner violence, and child abuse.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2016
AuthorsBeach SR, Carpenter CR, Rosen T, Sharps P, Gelles R
JournalJ Elder Abuse Negl
Volume28
Issue4-5
Pagination185-216
Date Published2016 Aug-Dec
ISSN1540-4129
KeywordsAged, Child, Child Abuse, Elder Abuse, Emergency Service, Hospital, Geriatrics, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Humans, Intimate Partner Violence, Long-Term Care, Mandatory Reporting, Mass Screening, Spouse Abuse
Abstract

This article provides an overview of elder abuse screening and detection methods for community-dwelling and institutionalized older adults, including general issues and challenges for the field. Then, discussions of applications in emergency geriatric care, intimate partner violence (IPV), and child abuse are presented to inform research opportunities in elder abuse screening. The article provides descriptions of emerging screening and detection methods and technologies from the emergency geriatric care and IPV fields. We also discuss the variety of potential barriers to effective screening and detection from the viewpoint of the older adult, caregivers, providers, and the health care system, and we highlight the potential harms and unintended negative consequences of increased screening and mandatory reporting. We argue that research should continue on the development of valid screening methods and tools, but that studies of perceived barriers and potential harms of elder abuse screening among key stakeholders should also be conducted.

DOI10.1080/08946566.2016.1229241
Alternate JournalJ Elder Abuse Negl
PubMed ID27593945
PubMed Central IDPMC7339956
Grant ListR03 AG048109 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States