This publication of the Department of Justice (DOJ) National Institute of Justice (NIJ) summarizes the findings of two studies of mistreatment of older adults as well as the solutions offered by the research.
Preliminary findings from two recent research initiatives supported by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) introduce new program frameworks to prevent abuse of older adults. The two programs, COACH and EMPOWER, deliver interventions to help older adults still living in the community rather than in a senior facility or other institutionalized setting. This article summarizes the two programs and discusses their limitations and implications for broader use in larger, more diverse populations. The EMPOWER and COACH pilot studies show potential to fill a void in existing research on systematic solutions to mistreatment of older individuals. Though significantly limited by the COVID-19 pandemic, these studies suggest broader application of similar interventions across more diverse populations may be beneficial. Their most significant contribution is the creation of viable intervention and evaluation frameworks to guide future research and treatment. The researchers found that both EMPOWER and COACH delivered significant specific benefits for participants. EMPOWER targeted older adults who live alone, while COACH participants were caregivers of older adults who received resources and support that indirectly benefited older adults. At the end of the intervention and at the three-month follow-up, the evaluations measured whether caregivers in the treatment or control groups experienced lower self-reported elder mistreatment of the care recipients; higher self-rated quality of life of the care recipient in four domains: physical, social, psychological, and environmental; and lower caregiver burden. Three months following the COACH intervention a significant difference in mistreatment emerged between treatment and control groups. Caregiver social quality of life significantly increased in the treatment group. However, the difference between treatment and control was no longer significant at the three-month follow-up. With respect to the caregiver burden factor, the researchers found no significant difference between COACH treatment and control groups.
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