Drawing on evidence-based best practices found in other fields of family violence, this study identified approaches that could be tested to prevent elder mistreatment (EM) at the hands of family caregivers, who are among the most likely to commit mistreatment.
Elder mistreatment (EM) is a public health problem that harms millions of older Americans each year. Despite growing recognition of its occurrence, there are no evidence-based primary prevention programs. Although EM is distinct from other areas of family violence, including child maltreatment and intimate partner violence, common risk factors and theoretical underpinnings point to opportunities for prevention strategies. The current study examined home visiting approaches used primarily in the child maltreatment field and identified components that have potential to inform EM interventions, including prevention. The study concludes that there is enough information to begin testing a prevention intervention for EM that targets caregivers. (publisher abstract modified)