Elder abuse: what coroners know and need to know.

Area of Science:

• Forensic Science
• Public Health
• Gerontology

Background:

• Elder abuse is a significant public health issue.
• Coroners play a vital role in identifying elder abuse.
• Existing knowledge gaps among coroners may hinder identification and reporting.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the knowledge of elder abuse among Georgia coroners.
• To identify specific areas where training for coroners needs improvement.

Main Methods:

• A survey was conducted among 116 coroners in Georgia.
• The survey assessed knowledge of physical abuse signs versus aging signs.
• The survey evaluated awareness of mandatory reporting laws and elder abuse statutes.

Main Results:

• Over half of respondents reported knowing "almost nothing" or "a little" about distinguishing physical abuse from aging (54%).
• A majority (63%) lacked knowledge of mandatory reporting laws and elder abuse statutes.
• Nearly half (49%) reported that older adult cases were referred to the medical examiner "rarely if ever."

Conclusions:

• Georgia coroners demonstrate substantial deficits in elder abuse knowledge.
• Targeted training is needed to improve coroners' ability to identify and report elder abuse.
• Strengthening coroner training can enhance the detection and prevention of elder abuse.