Interviewing the Elderly Chapter 8 8-1

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 The majority of violence against elders is domestic abuse 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

Indicators of Fiduciary Abuse Uncharacteristic bank activity Suspicious activity on credit card Frequent or unauthorized use of ATM card An un-witnessed will has been drawn up

Elder Assessment The purpose of the assessment is to establish if any vulnerability or impairment exists that might affect the interview

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 devices such as a hearing aid or eyeglasses If the elder is physically self-sufficient If the elder is financially self-sufficient

Questioning the Older Person Pre-Interview Assessment through conversation-observing evaluation

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

Conducting the Interview Prepare for the interview Establish rapport Conduct the interview End the interview Follow up

Step 1: Prepare for the interview Choose quiet location

Step 2: Establish rapport Show respect

Step 3: Conduct the interview Avoid suggesting responses

Step 4: End the interview Address objections involving family members

Step 5: Follow-up Make referrals when needed

The Elder as a Witness Do not assume that the elder suffers from dementia or senility Is there alcohol or drug overuse? Is there abnormal sensatory performance? Do they need glasses or hearing aid?

The Elder as a Witness 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 There is a significant difference in free recall between young adults (age 21) and 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

Types of Dependence 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 The majority of reports concerning elder abuse are made to adult protective services rather than the police Multi-disciplinary teams represent an example of current approaches to the crimes affecting seniors

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

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 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