Interviewing Elders Chapter 8

Demographics of the Elder Population America is no longer dominated by the youth! In 1983 the elderly population surpassed the number of teenagers. By 2030, 1 in 5 Americans will be elderly. Elderly is defined as being aged 65 and older.

Crimes Against the Elderly domestic abuse The majority of crimes against elders is domestic abuse Perpetrated by family or caregivers Self-neglect Abandonment Active neglect Passive neglect Physical abuse Sexual abuse

Fiduciary Abuse Financial exploitation or economic abuse of elders Committed by strangers Perpetrated by family or caregivers Perpetrated by family or caregivers Uncharacteristic bank activity Suspicious activity on credit card use Frequent or unauthorized use of ATM card An un-witnessed will has been drawn up

Questioning the Older Person Pre-Interview Assessment through conversation-observing evaluation The purpose of the assessment is to establish if any vulnerability or impairment exists that might affect the interview

Conversation-observing Evaluation Be open-minded Speak with the elder at a place where they are comfortable, typically their own home This is a “friendly visit” for the purpose of observing Sit face to face with the elder Do not take notes without permission Introduce yourself and generally state your purpose Ask the person for their full name Refer to the elder by his or her title

Determine in an Elder Assessment If the elder has difficulty in answering simple questions If the elder has difficulty seeing or hearing If he or she needs ancillary devises such as a hearing aid or eye glasses If the elder is physically self-sufficient If the elder is financially self-sufficient

Steps of the Elder Interview Prepare for the Interview Establish Rapport Conduct the Interview End the Interview Follow Up Choose quiet location Show respect Avoid suggesting responses Address objections involving family members Make referrals when needed

The Elder as a Witness The vast majority of elder witnesses are capable of giving accurate and reliable information regarding victimization Do not assume that the elder suffers from dementia or senility

Physical Limitations Visual & Hearing Loss Normal sensatory changes due to aging include visual and hearing loss Is there abnormal sensatory performance? Do they need glasses or hearing aid? Speak face to face Do not smoke, chew gum, or cover your mouth Do not speak too quickly Establish eye contact

Cognitive Limitations No evidence of an age-related vulnerability to misinformation, contamination is a problem in all age groups Memory jogging techniques may enhance the recall for elder victims Patience may be needed to allow the elder the time she or he needs to answer a question

Source Confusion Elders are more susceptible to source confusion than younger adults Elders are also likely to act more confident regardless of their source misinformation

What is Source Confusion? It is difficulty in distinguishing what they have witnessed themselves as opposed to what they may have heard from someone else, or a problem identifying the exact source of the information

Recall Expectations There is a significant difference in free recall between young adults (age 21) & elders (age 70). Older adult witnesses provide fewer descriptions of the perpetrator (physical, clothing, etc.)

Face Recognition by Elder Witnesses Older adults (60 – 80) are more likely to ‘false alarm’ to new faces. In other words they are more likely to falsely recognize a face they had not seen previously. In the eyewitness identification setting, they are more prone to making false choices.

Concerns due to Dependence A common risk factor exists when the caretaker is financially dependent on the elder Care provided with or without contract Does it appear that the caregiver has been reluctant to supply the elder with eyeglasses, dental care, medications, or other needed services? Is the elder incontinent with bedsores? One who has accepted personal gifts from the elder

Interdisciplinary Interviewing Multi-disciplinary teams represent an example of current approaches to the crimes affecting seniors Investigations should be coordinated with adult protective services or the ombudsman whenever possible to establish cooperative models of intervention

Mandatory Elder Abuse Reporting All 50 states, the District of Columbia, and some U.S. territories require professionals to report suspected abuse or neglect of the elderly The majority of reports concerning elder abuse are made to adult protective services rather than the police

Crime Perpetrated by Elders As people get older they commit less crime, this is referred to as aging out Approximately one-third of domestic abusers against the elderly are persons aged 60 and above In domestic violence among older married couples the woman is as likely as the man to be the abuser