Assessing the Probability of Abuse of the Elderly: Toward Development of a Clinical Screening Instrument

Abstract

Over the years, several investigators and service providers have indicated the need for a tool to screen elderly victims for the possibility of abuse and neglect. We examined over 100 items for their predictive value in discriminating cases of abuse/neglect from comparable cases of elderly persons known not to be victims. Data were collected by nine social/ health agencies on 50 cases of abuse/neglect and 47 control cases. Through a series of discriminant function data reduction analyses, nine items were identified that were 94% accurate in classifying cases into abuse/neglect and control groups. We discuss implications of these findings for future research and program planning.