Citation

Mosqueda L, Burnight K, Liao S, Kemp B. Gerontologist 2004; 44(5): 703-708.

Affiliation

College of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, 101 The City Drive South, Pavilion III, ZC 1150, Orange, CA 92868. mosqueda@uci.edu.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004, Oxford University Press)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

15498847

Abstract

PURPOSE: The purpose of this work is to describe the development and operation of a new model for integration of medical and social services. The Vulnerable Adult Specialist Team (VAST) provides Adult Protective Services (APS) and criminal justice agencies with access to medical experts who examine medical and psychological injuries of victims of elder abuse. DESIGN AND METHODS: This retrospective, descriptive analysis included community-dwelling elders and adults with disabilities who were reported for mistreatment and referred to VAST (n = 269). RESULTS: Most cases came from APS for mental status and physical examination for evidence of abuse. Cases referred to a medical response team (n = 269) were significantly different from cases that were not referred (n = 9,505). IMPLICATIONS: Ninety-seven percent of those who referred cases to VAST indicated that the team was helpful in confirming abuse, documenting impaired capacity, reviewing medications and medical conditions, facilitating the conservatorship process, persuading the client or family to take action, and supporting the need for law enforcement involvement. As a result, VAST has become institutionalized in our county. Amenable to replication, medical response teams for elder abuse may be useful in other counties across the nation.