Program plan for the development and implementation of an elder abuse multi-disciplinary team within a federally qualified healthcare center

Project (M.S., Special Major (Gerontology (Community Based Gerontology Services))--California State University, Sacramento, 2014.In the United States elder abuse among community-dwelling older adults is a substantial public health problem, with prevalence rates reported between 1.4% to 10% within the general population; documentation of abuse among minority population have noted prevalence rates ranging from 23.0% to 40.4% (Acierno, Hernandez-Tejada, Muzzy, & Steve, 2009; Tartara, 1998; Laumann, Leitsch, & Waite, 2008; Beach, Schulz, Castle, & Rosen, 2010; DeLiema, Gassoumis, Homeier, & Wilber, 2012). With a rapidly increasing older adult population in the United States, existing levels of supportive services to meet the complex needs of older adults who are experiencing, or are at risk of experiencing, abuse are not sufficient to meet demand (Acierno et al, 2009; Government Accountability Office, 2011). In direct response to the increased need for integrative, supportive services for older adults at risk for elder abuse, the purpose of this project is to develop a program plan for the identification, intervention and prevention of elder abuse in community-dwelling older adults using a multi-disciplinary team within a Federally Qualified Healthcare Center. This model would incorporate trained professionals working collaboratively to meet the needs of older adults in their community. Additional members of the team would include bi-cultural community health workers, and graduate students in Law, Gerontology, and Recreation Therapy enrolled in extended service learning assignments, with the purpose of increasing social supportive services for older adults, providing outreach and public education on elder abuse to the local community, while gaining professional growth and development as future professionals on the front lines of care and policy change (Teaster & Nerenberg, 2003; United States Department of Health and Human Service, 2011; Tyron, Stoecker, Martin, Seblonka, Hilgendorf, & Nellis, 2008).Special Major (Gerontology (Community Based Gerontology Services)