Since AAR last reviewed new Clearinghouse on Abuse and Neglect of the Elderly (CANE) additions (January 2003; www.wordbridges.net/
elderabuse/aar/vol2issue1/cane.html), more than 100 new items have been added to the database. This listing highlights some of those AAR believes will be of most interest and relevance to our readers. You may see further details on any item by searching for it on the CANE website (http://db.rdms.udel.edu:8080/CANE/index.jsp) and clicking on the file number to get the abstract.

You may also order a copy of the full document from CANE; multiply the digits following the dash in the file number (i.e., the “9” in P5024-9) by 20 cents and send that amount plus an explicit request to:

Clearinghouse on Abuse and Neglect of the Elderly
University of Delaware
Dept. of Consumer Studies
Alison Hall West -- Room 211
Newark, DE 19716
302-831-3525

ASSESSMENT TOOLS AND PROTOCOLS

CANE File No. P5219-9
Blum, B. and Feledy, T.
2002
“Undue Influence Worksheets for Police, APS, and Probate Investigators”
Park Dietz & Associates
The Undue Influence Worksheet is based upon the IDEAL Model for analyzing potential undue influence in financial cases. Evidence of undue influence requires a listing of all pertinent events occurring between the victim and perpetrator. This packet contains an overview of financial abuse or exploitation, an overview of the IDEAL Model (Isolation, Dependence upon the perpetrator, Emotional Manipulation or Exploitation of Vulnerability, Acquiescence and Loss), the Events List Form, The Events Detail Form, along with examples of the completed forms. (Note: This packet may be obtained by contacting Dr. Bennett Blum, Director – Forensic Geropsychiatry, c/o Park Dietz & Associates, Newport Beach, CA 949-760-0422.)

CANE File No. P5157-87
State of New Hampshire Governor’s Commission on Domestic and Sexual Violence
June 1999
“Elder Abuse: Domestic Violence Protocol”
This protocol is one in a series developed in the state of New Hampshire to address domestic violence and sexual violence. Its purpose is to serve as an assessment guideline for adult protective services (APS) professionals who are investigating domestic violence. The report describes the role of the state’s Division of Elder Abuse Services (DEAS), established in 1986, and an overview of the investigation process. Specific recommendations are included, such as observing the dynamics of power and control while interviewing alleged victims, alleged perpetrators and collateral witnesses. The comprehensive list of appendices include legislation regarding reporting suspected abuse of elderly and dependent adults and protection for victims, a template for a detailed personal safety plan, the Power and Control wheel, The Equity Wheel, a coordinating community action model, and bibliographic references.

ETHICAL AND THEORETICAL ISSUES

CANE File No. P5125-10
Bergeron, L. R. and Gray, B.
2003
“Ethical Dilemmas of Reporting Suspected Elder Abuse”
Social Work, Vol. 48, No. 1, p. 96-105
In this article, the role of caregiver support group facilitator is considered in light of the need to report suspected elder abuse or neglect. Case studies are used to illustrate various ethical dilemmas that may arise as social workers, counselors and others facilitate group sessions.

CANE File No. P5198-23
Corvo, K. and Johnson, P.
2003
“Vilification of the ‘Batterer’: How Blame Shapes Domestic Violence Policy and Interventions”
Aggression and Violent Behavior, Vol. 8, Issue 3, pp. 259-281
In this discussion, the authors present examples of the “vilification of the batterer” in domestic violence: “…the popular, policy, and ‘scientific’ legitimization of the dismissive and degrading categorization of perpetrators…” This characterization has limited the therapeutic interventions available to families, couples and abusers. Among other points, the authors argue that numerous programs are limited regarding treatment modalities due to prohibitions from state funding agencies based upon such assumptions. Poor outcome rates among the sanctioned batterers groups, and an ignoring of modalities that have shown some positive outcomes, are among the consequences of the current prevailing perspective.

INTERVENTIONS

CANE File No. P5137-7
Kahan, F. and Paris, B.
2003
“Why Elder Abuse Continues to Elude the Health Care System”
Mount Sinai Journal of Medicine, Vol. 70, No. 1, pp. 62-68
The Mount Sinai Hospital Elder Abuse Program was created in 1998. The purpose was to identify elderly patients in the hospital who had experienced elder abuse or neglect, to assist them in attaining compensation, and to provide counseling, support, advocacy and referral. A case study is presented to illustrate the difficulties in providing services. Over a two-year period, 182 cases were identified and assessed, with approximately half of these referred patients having a diagnosis of memory impairment. This article presents information regarding the population served through this model program, and addresses the obstacles found in the health care setting. Interdisciplinary/multidisciplinary team work is pivotal, along with the continued education of health care professionals regarding the symptoms of elder mistreatment.

CANE File No. P5136-4
Kingsley, B.
2002
“Community Empowerment: Promoting the Safety and Minimising the Abuse of Older People”
Australian Journal of Primary Health, Vol. 8, No. 2, pp. 98-101
This article reports on a community awareness outreach program in the Perth, Western Australia metropolitan area. Educational forums were designed for elders and caregivers as a means of empowerment to reduce the risk of elder abuse and neglect. The program, entitled “Staying Safe,” used Freire’s learning centered model of education (1972) and drew upon the shared experiences of elders living in the community. Using psychodrama, presenters acted out various abuse scenarios and participants discussed their reactions and practiced decision-making regarding the situations. A number of abuse disclosures were made and individuals were offered follow-up counseling and support programs. Evaluations and outcomes of these follow-up services indicate that the model program was well received and effective.

OLDER BATTERED WOMEN ISSUES AND RESEARCH

CANE File No. P5208-6
Osgood, N. and Manetta, A.
2001
“Abuse and Suicidal Issues in Older Women”
Omega, Vol. 42, No. 1, pp. 71-81
Abuse crisis hotlines do not typically assess for depression and suicidality, and suicide hotlines do not typically assess for histories of abuse. This study addresses the link between suicidal issues and histories of abuse. The hospital charts of ninety-two women, aged 55 and older, who were discharged from two psychiatric hospitals and one medical center in central Virginia between October 1994 and August 1996 were examined for information regarding suicidal ideation and behaviors and past or current abuse (childhood abuse, rape and battering). There was a significantly higher number of women experiencing suicidal issues who had experienced past or ongoing abuse. Social workers, counselors and other crisis intervention professionals are urged to assess abuse victims for depression and suicidality and to assess depressed clients for histories of abuse. A number of screening tools for both abuse and depression are identified.

CANE File No. P5204-8
Phillips, L.
2000
“Domestic Violence and Aging Women”
Geriatric Nursing, Vol. 21, No. 4, pp. 188-195
This article addresses intimate partner violence among older women and also examines the dynamics of domestic violence against older female caregivers. Older battered women appear more inclined to view abusive behaviors as normal, and therefore acceptable, thus making identification and reporting of abuse more difficult. The author’s research indicates that neither cognitive status nor abuse of caregivers appears linked to abuse of aging caregivers. Rather, it is more likely a continuation of long-standing abuse or resentment. Specific guidelines are provided so that nurses can enhance their ability to assess, refer and assist these patients. Note: This article includes a Continuing Education test with instructions for filing.

TRAINING ALLIED PROFESSIONALS

CANE File No. P5150-7
Ahmad, M. and Lachs, M.
October 2002
“Elder Abuse and Neglect: What Physicians Can and Should Do”
Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine, Vol. 69, No. 10, pp. 801-808
This overview provides information on elder mistreatment tailored for physicians treating older patients in the community.

CANE File No. P5141-10
Cowen, H. and Cowen, P.
2002
“Elder Mistreatment: Dental Assessment and Intervention”
Special Care in Dentistry: Official Publication of the American Association of Hospital Dentists, the Academy of Dentistry for the Handicapped, and the American Society for Geriatric Dentistry, Vol. 22, No. 1, pp. 23-32
Since head and neck injuries are the most common symptoms of physical abuse among the elderly, dentists are in a position to observe signs of mistreatment during examinations. Symptoms of malnutrition due to neglect or self-neglect may be detected as well as evidence of sexual abuse. A table of physical and behavioral indicators for each subtype of mistreatment is included.

CANE File No. P5145-6
Heath, J., Dyer, C., Kerzner, L., Mosqueda, L., and Murphy, C.
November 2002
“Four Models of Medical Education about Elder Mistreatment”
Academic Medicine, Vol. 77, No. 11, pp. 1101-1106
This article presents a comparison of four medical education models that incorporate community based Adult Protective Services agencies into their geriatric curricula. Each program – University of California, Irvine College of Medicine; the Hennepin County Medical Center in Minnesota; Baylor College of Medicine Geriatrics Program of the Harris County Hospital in Texas; and the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey – is highlighted, and the differences and similarities are discussed and presented in a tabular format.