Codesigning Training for Health Providers to Improve Detection and Response to Elder Abuse

Screening for elder abuse can improve detection, but many health providers lack the necessary skills and confidence. To address this, training for health providers on elder abuse screening was codesigned as part of a trial aimed at improving elder abuse detection and response.

Between March and April 2023, 7 health providers and 10 older people and family carers participated in 2 national Australian online codesign workshops. Using the World Café method, discussions focused on what knowledge and skills health providers needed for screening; clinical and social issues affecting screening and referral; and support older people needed throughout the process. Data were thematically analyzed.

Participants said health providers should take a trauma-informed, person-centered approach to screening, and explain the limits of confidentiality to older people. Clinical, social, and systemic issues such as dementia, ethnic diversity, and housing availability complicated screening and referrals. To facilitate disclosure, participants said health providers needed to reflect on whether they held ageist views. There were differing opinions on the length of the training and whether all health providers or only social workers should screen for abuse.

Participants' feedback on trauma-informed care, consent, and cognitive impairment concorded with evidence on best practice responses to elder abuse and were integrated into the training. Given operational constraints in health services, feedback from health providers about the training length and the inclusion of all health providers in screening were prioritized. The training is being evaluated in a national trial.