A randomized-control trial testing the impact of a multidisciplinary team response to older adult maltreatment

  • Anne P. DePrince
  • , Leslie K. Hasche
  • , Julie M. Olomi
  • , Naomi M. Wright
  • , Jennifer Labus

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

12 Scopus citations

Abstract

Forensic center multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) have emerged to address older adult maltreatment; however, little research is available on this approach. The current study employed a randomized-control design to test the impact of a victim-focused, forensic center MDT relative to usual care (UC) on older adult victim and criminal justice outcomes. Cases of abuse, neglect, and/or financial exploitation involving a perpetrator in a position of trust were randomly assigned to MDT or UC. Outcomes were assessed via interviews with older adult victims, system-based advocates' surveys, and administrative data. According to system-based advocates, MDT had a better prognosis, higher across-agency coordination, and more types of engaged services relative to UC. Administrative data indicated low rates of APS case openings and prosecution. Findings provide support for continued use of MDTs following older adult maltreatment and highlight difficulties engaging older adults given the complex social and material circumstances often related to maltreatment.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)307-324
Number of pages18
JournalJournal of Elder Abuse and Neglect
Volume31
Issue number4-5
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 20 2019

Funding

This work was supported by the National Institute of Justice [Grant #2013-MU-CX-0032]. The views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views or the official position of the National Institute of Justice or any other organization. We would like to thank the Denver Forensic Collaborative for their collaboration, particularly Maro Casparian (Denver District Attorney’s Office), Linda Loflin Pettit (Denver City Attorney’s Office), and Whitney Nettleton (Denver Adult Protective Services) as well as graduate students for their input, especially Tejas Srinivas and Kerry Gagnon. A description of these findings was included in a Summary Overview Report to the National Institute of Justice.

FundersFunder number
Denver District Attorney’s Office
2013-MU-CX-0032

    Keywords

    • Forensic center
    • elder abuse
    • multidisciplinary team
    • older adult abuse

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