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To report or not to report: emergency services response to elder abuse
J S Jones1, G Walker, J R Krohmer
1Emergency Medicine Residency Program, Butterworth Hospital, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Grand Rapids 49503, USA.
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine
|March 9, 1995
Summary
Prehospital emergency medical services personnel often encounter elder abuse but lack awareness and training for reporting. Improved education is crucial for identifying and addressing elder abuse cases.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Public Health
- Emergency Medicine
Background:
- Prehospital emergency medical services (EMS) personnel are frontline responders to medical emergencies.
- Elder abuse and neglect are significant public health concerns, often underreported.
- EMS providers are uniquely positioned to identify potential cases of elder abuse during calls.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the awareness and reporting practices of prehospital personnel regarding elder abuse.
- To determine the prevalence of elder abuse encountered by EMS providers.
- To identify barriers to reporting suspected cases of elder abuse.
Main Methods:
- A survey was administered to a random sample of 500 prehospital personnel in Michigan.
- The survey included questions on demographics, practice characteristics, perceived prevalence of elder abuse, and available training.
- Attitudes towards understanding and reporting elder abuse were measured using a Likert-type scale.
Main Results:
- Of 156 respondents, 78% had encountered suspected elder abuse during their careers, and 68% in the past year.
- Despite high encounter rates, only 27% of suspected cases were reported.
- Key barriers to reporting included uncertainty about authorities, unclear definitions, lack of awareness of mandatory reporting, and concerns about anonymity.
Conclusions:
- Prehospital personnel, including paramedics and emergency medical technicians (EMTs), demonstrate gaps in understanding their role in elder abuse identification and reporting.
- There is a significant lack of specific training on elder abuse within EMS agencies.
- Enhanced training and continuing education are recommended to improve elder abuse identification and reporting by EMS providers.