Long-Term Trajectories of Older Adults Served by an Emergency Department/Hospital-Based Elder Mistreatment Response Program

Background: An emergency department (ED) visit or hospitalization provides an opportunity to identify elder mistreatment and initiate intervention, but this seldom occurs. To address this, we developed the Vulnerable Elder Protection Team (VEPT), a novel interdisciplinary consultation service. We explored the long-term trajectories of patients receiving VEPT evaluation and intervention.

Methods: We followed up at multiple intervals for 12 months older adults seen by VEPT from 9/1/2020-3/27/2023 with high or moderate concern for mistreatment who were discharged to the community, an elder abuse shelter, or rehabilitation facilities. We collected information through telephone calls to the older adult and others involved. We also analyzed separately cases in which the patient re-presented to the ED/hospital with VEPT consultation during the follow-up period.

Results: A total of 157 older adults met criteria for follow-up, and 30 of these (16.4%) died within 12 months. At 1 month, elder mistreatment was no longer occurring in 47.5% and still occurring but reduced in 20.3%, with 29.7% having no contact with the perpetrator and 17.8% having reduced contact. At 12 months, elder mistreatment was no longer occurring in 60.9% and still occurring but reduced in 14.5%, with 34.8% having no contact with the perpetrator and 17.4% having reduced contact. During the 12-month follow-up period, 16 (10.2%) patients re-presented to the ED with VEPT consultation, with 12 having persistent concern for ongoing elder mistreatment. Reasons included older adults/caregivers not accepting intervention or being willing to separate as well as VEPT reliance on community-based agencies and programs after discharge.

Conclusions: We observed improved post-discharge safety for elder mistreatment victims who engaged with the VEPT program, with this increased safety durable over 1 year. Re-presentations highlighted the complexity of elder mistreatment intervention. Overall, these findings demonstrate the potential value of an ED/hospital-based elder mistreatment response team, a promising new geriatric care model.