Elder abuse is a widespread issue that affects many senior citizens across the country, but there is no standard protocol in place for identifying signs of this abuse. Weill Cornell’s Vulnerable Elder Protection Team is made up of three physicians and two social workers who take turns examining and interviewing incoming patients, recommending further testing if they suspect abuse.
If necessary, the VEPT connects patients with legal advisers or other patient-services personnel to help address abuse.
“It’s difficult to identify and measure appropriate outcomes for elder abuse victims, because each patient may have different care goals,” said Anthony Rosen, MD, MPH, founder and lead investigator of the VEPT, “but we are working on making a case that detection of elder abuse and intervention in the ER will improve the patients’ lives. We also hope to show that it will save money, because when an elder is in a safe place, expensive, frequent trips to the ER may no longer be needed.”
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