Early Detection of Elder Mistreatment.
Project Overview
Over 40% of older adults with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) experience elder mistreatment or abuse (EA/EM), oftentimes perpetrated by their primary caregiver. The proposed study will identify early warning indicators for EA/EM and gaps in resources through practice knowledge of case managers and lived experience of ADRD caregivers, with the long-term goal of informing methods and materials for screening and prevention.
Details:
Over 40% of older adults with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) experience elder mistreatment or abuse (EA/EM), oftentimes perpetrated by their primary caregiver. Higher perceived stress in caregivers is significantly associated with confirmed EA/EM cases, indicating that stress processes are linked with EA/EM risk. Prevention of EA/EM requires early identification of situations and emotional states in which there may be a loss of emotional control, which can lead to potentially harmful behaviors towards the older adult with ADRD. The proposed study will identify early warning indicators for EA/EM and gaps in resources through practice knowledge of case managers and lived experience of ADRD caregivers, with the long-term goal of informing methods and materials for screening and prevention. We will additionally test the effectiveness of a positive affect intervention to improve emotional regulation among ADRD caregivers.
Project Contact: Chelsea Liu, PhD
Principal Investigator
Chelsea Liu, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Epidemiology
Miryoung Lee, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Epidemiology