Elder Abuse Follow-up

  • Author: Monique I Sellas, MD; Chief Editor: Barry E Brenner, MD, PhD, FACEP   more...
 
Updated: Jun 8, 2011
 

Further Outpatient Care

Long-term assessment and care vary with the needs of the patient. Assessment usually involves a visit to the home to evaluate the patient's functional status, living environment, and the condition of the caregiver. The services needed to optimize the care of the patient can be determined only after a home visit.

In a descriptive study of in-home geriatric assessment in two New Jersey counties, it was discovered that this assessment was able to contribute at least one relevant intervention for 81% of referred adult protective services (APS) clients to collaboratively help mitigate elder mistreatment circumstances.[5] This underscores the importance of referral to the appropriate services and agencies.

Stress to competent patients who refuse help that abuse rarely resolves—it usually escalates. Inform patients that a number of agencies can provide help; provide phone numbers and addresses of these agencies. Develop safety and follow-up plans before the patient leaves the ED.

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Patient Education

National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse

National Adult Protective Services Association

The National Center for Victims of Crime

National Center on Elder Abuse

U.S. Administration on Aging - Eldercare Locator

1-800-677-1116

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Monique I Sellas, MD  Staff Physician, Department of Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital; Clinical Instructor, Harvard Medical School

Monique I Sellas, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians, American College of Forensic Examiners, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Laurel H Krouse, MD  Staff Physician, Department of Emergency Medicine, Paoli Hospital

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Steven A Conrad, MD, PhD  Chief, Department of Emergency Medicine; Chief, Multidisciplinary Critical Care Service, Professor, Department of Emergency and Internal Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center

Steven A Conrad, MD, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Chest Physicians, American College of Critical Care Medicine, American College of Emergency Physicians, American College of Physicians, International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation, Louisiana State Medical Society, Shock Society, Society for Academic Emergency Medicine, and Society of Critical Care Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

Robert Harwood, MD, MPH, FACEP, FAAEM  Program Director, Department of Emergency Medicine, Advocate Christ Medical Center; Assistant Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine

Robert Harwood, MD, MPH, FACEP, FAAEM is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American College of Emergency Physicians, American Medical Association, Council of Emergency Medicine Residency Directors, Phi Beta Kappa, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

John D Halamka, MD, MS  Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Chief Information Officer, CareGroup Healthcare System and Harvard Medical School; Attending Physician, Division of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

John D Halamka, MD, MS is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians, American Medical Informatics Association, Phi Beta Kappa, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Barry E Brenner, MD, PhD, FACEP  Professor of Emergency Medicine, Professor of Internal Medicine, Program Director, Emergency Medicine, Case Medical Center, University Hospitals, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

Barry E Brenner, MD, PhD, FACEP is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American College of Chest Physicians, American College of Emergency Physicians, American College of Physicians, American Heart Association, American Thoracic Society, Arkansas Medical Society, New York Academy of Medicine, New York Academy of Sciences, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

References

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