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Elder neglect assessment in the emergency department
T Fulmer1, G Paveza, I Abraham
1The Muriel and Virginia Pless Center for Nursing Research, Division of Nursing, New York University, New York, NY, USA. terry.fulmer@nyu.edu
Journal of Emergency Nursing
|October 3, 2000
Summary
Screening for elder neglect in busy emergency departments is feasible. Nurses can accurately detect elder neglect using established protocols, with a 71% true-positive rate.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Emergency Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Emergency departments serve as a critical initial contact point for victims of elder neglect.
- Elder neglect detection is a growing public health concern requiring effective screening strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of elder neglect screening protocols for nurses in a high-volume emergency department.
- To determine if emergency department nurses can effectively identify elder neglect within their practice.
Main Methods:
- A pilot study was conducted over three weeks in a metropolitan emergency department.
- 180 patients aged 70 years and older were screened, with 36 meeting eligibility criteria for enrollment.
Main Results:
- Seven patients screened positive for neglect by a home caregiver.
- Nurses achieved over 70% accuracy in screening and detecting elder neglect.
- The study reported a 71% true-positive rate and a 7% false-positive rate for neglect detection.
Conclusions:
- Implementing elder neglect screening protocols in busy emergency departments is feasible.
- Accurate detection of elder neglect is achievable in emergency department settings with appropriate screening procedures.