You’re wrapping up your visit when your patient suddenly confides that they are afraid. What do you do? Allow me to guide you along this delicate and treacherous terrain.
- Characterize it
Elder abuse is ‘purposeful or neglectful behavior that endangers a vulnerable senior.’ It is globally recognized in June and includes: financial exploitation, inappropriate sexual acts, physical, emotional abuse and self-neglect. Savvy medical professionals should enquire about it annually by simply asking “Tell me, do you feel safe at home?” Observe your patient’s nonverbal cues.
- Corroborate it
Obtain a detailed history in the ABSENCE of the alleged perpetrator. Outline the onset, the persons involved, and the purported acts. Clues suggesting abuse may include recurrent ER visits, genital lesions, and deranged laboratory results like elevated sodium that can suggest dehydration.
- CONTACT
Once you characterize and corroborate, contact your state’s Adult Protective Service Agency. Provide a comprehensive report to the authorities who will assign an investigator to the case. In states like Florida, this investigator will make face to face contact with the alleged victim within 24 hours of the report. If a caregiver attempts to obstruct contact, law enforcement will be summoned. In the end, patients with cognitive capacity may decline the recommendations of Adult Protective Services but always remember to employ your 3Cs when you suspect elder abuse- characterize, corroborate, and contact!
