A statewide elder mistreatment virtual assessment program: Legal, ethical, and practical issues.

Area of Science:

• Geriatrics
• Forensic Medicine
• Telehealth

Background:

• Growing demand for forensic services for Adult Protective Services (APS) clients, particularly in remote areas.
• Increased importance of remote assessment methods due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Limited availability of geriatricians specializing in elder abuse and self-neglect.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a novel telecommunication-assisted forensic assessment program for APS clients.
• To outline the structure and operational considerations of a collaboration between APS and geriatricians.
• To discuss legal, ethical, and practical challenges and solutions for such programs.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing synchronous audiovisual technology for remote client interviews.
• Geriatrician faculty conducting capacity and mistreatment assessments.
• Collaborating with state Adult Protective Services agencies.

Main Results:

• Successfully meeting the demand for forensic services in underserved areas of Texas.
• Demonstrating the feasibility and importance of telehealth for capacity assessments.
• Identifying key legal, ethical, and practical considerations for program implementation.

Conclusions:

• Telehealth-assisted geriatric forensic assessments are effective in expanding access to care.
• The described collaborative model provides a framework for establishing similar programs in other states.
• Addressing legal, ethical, and resource limitations is crucial for program success.