Formative Evaluation of a Coordinated Community Response to Elder Abuse

BACKGROUND: Violence against elderly populations is growing. In a large mid-south community, if hospital admission is not required, the victimized older person remains vulnerable, without a comprehensive coordinated community response (CCR) to mitigate and prevent future violence or death. Community desires to improve the CCR resulted in educational funding for the legal team members, which improved identification of abused older and vulnerable persons. However, a large gap was, unless hospitalized, there was no geriatric health care treatment for minor injury or injury documentation, resulting in few prosecutions, which left the senior at risk for future abuse and death.

AIMS: Identify and evaluate outcomes from formative steps taken to implement a CCR to elder and vulnerable person abuse, neglect and exploitation.

RESULTS: A major funding organization stepped forward with discretionary funding to help community stakeholders meet and remain aware of funding opportunities. A grant submission in 2013 to support the formation of a sustainable medical response was unfunded. In 2014, when funding became available, the local government applied for another educational grant for the legal community. Aims create focus groups, a possible medical-legal partnership and contracts with health care providers in an effort to solve the medical delivery and legal outcome dilemma for older persons with minor injury.

DISCUSSION: Collaborative processes require building capacity and sustainability. Financial sustainability to address identified gaps exists in the medical and legal community and discussion will be on the community’s movement necessary to fill the legal and health care delivery gaps with a medical-legal partnership.