ED/hospital program contributions to community multi-disciplinary team meetings: Different models

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Social Work

Background:

• Elder mistreatment (EM) is a significant public health issue requiring interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Community-based multi-disciplinary teams (MDTs) are crucial for addressing EM identification, intervention, and prevention.
• Engaging hospital-based professionals in MDTs presents unique challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore similarities and differences between two community-based MDTs that include hospital-based response teams.
• To understand the role and impact of Emergency Department (ED)/hospital-based response teams within MDTs for elder mistreatment cases.

Main Methods:

• Comparative case study of two communities with newly established ED/hospital-based response teams participating in MDTs.
• Analysis of MDT structures, functions, and the specific roles of the hospital-based teams.

Main Results:

• Both MDTs demonstrated core common features in their approach to elder mistreatment.
• Significant variations were observed, influenced by local circumstances, MDT development, resources, and the hospital program's role.
• The integration and function of hospital-based teams within MDTs varied considerably.

Conclusions:

• Hospital-based teams can enhance MDT effectiveness in addressing elder mistreatment.
• Tailoring MDT models to community-specific contexts and resources is essential for successful implementation.
• Further research is needed to optimize the integration of hospital professionals into elder mistreatment response networks.