Kentucky's Local Elder Abuse Coordinating Councils: a model for other states

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Social Work

Background:

• Established in 1998, Kentucky's Local Coordinating Councils on Elder Abuse (LCCEAs) aimed to address elder abuse locally.
• By 2008, 39 LCCEAs covered 112 of 120 counties, indicating a growing statewide effort.
• These councils represent a multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach to elder abuse intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To understand the roles, processes, and accomplishments of Kentucky's LCCEAs.
• To evaluate the effectiveness and challenges of a statewide MDT effort against elder abuse.
• To identify factors influencing the success and sustainability of elder abuse intervention councils.

Main Methods:

• A survey was administered to LCCEAs across Kentucky.
• The survey collected data on council roles, operational processes, service variety, and achievements.
• Data analysis focused on understanding the structure and function of these multidisciplinary teams.

Main Results:

• Nearly half of the councils were less than 3 years old, suggesting a developing network.
• LCCEAs offered diverse services, including expert consultation and information dissemination on elder abuse.
• Key roles included identifying service gaps, systemic issues, and advocating for policy changes.
• Half of the councils performed case reviews, often encompassing all types of elder abuse.
• Inadequate and unreliable funding from diverse sources posed a significant challenge for all councils.
• LCCEAs primarily functioned as community educators, highlighting a need for enhanced intervention capacity.

Conclusions:

• LCCEAs play a vital role in community education and advocacy regarding elder abuse.
• Sustaining LCCEAs requires dedicated staff, consistent funding, clear objectives, and standardized outcome measures.
• Strengthening these multidisciplinary teams is crucial for improving elder abuse intervention and prevention efforts.