Use Surveillance Technology to Reduce Elder Abuse Recidivism

Not Applicable

Terminated

• Conditions: Domestic Abuse; Elder Abuse; Self Neglect; Aging

• Registration Number: NCT04563728
• Lead Sponsor: Rutgers University

Brief Summary

The project is to build multi-sector and multi-institutional partnerships to test the feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of a pilot surveillance camera intervention (N=10) to reduce the frequency and severity of abuse, exploitation, and neglect in community older adults.

Detailed Description

This a feasibility investigation that aims to conduct an 8-week pilot RCT (N=10 total) to test the potential effectiveness of a surveillance intervention to reduce frequency and severity of elder abuse among older populations. Eligible participants will be recruited from community-dwelling populations in which an older adult victim has experienced elder abuse (abuse, exploitation, neglect) according to New Jersey APS referrals or our screening. With informed written consent, participants will be evenly randomized into one of three conditions: camera, mock camera, and control (usual care).

Primary outcomes are elder abuse cases including psychological, physical, sexual abuse, financial exploitations, caregiver neglect, and self-neglect measured by 83 items. For psychological and physical abuse, we use eight items and ten items from a modified Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS).46-53. Sexual abuse will be assessed by a question asking about experiences of being touched in private areas when unwanted. Financial exploitation will be assessed by the 17-item Financial Exploitation Scale, adapted from Conrad et al in a study funded by the Department of Justice.54 Caregiver neglect will be assessed by 20 items of unmet needs in key activities of daily living among individuals living with at least one person.35,55 Self-neglect was assessed by a widely used and validated measurement56,57.The measurement was reviewed by a community advisory board of over 20 community organizations led by a geriatrician and has shown good contend, convergent58, and predictive validity59.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2020-03-30
• Study Start: 2020-05-01
• Study First Submitted QC: 2020-09-23
• Study First Posted: 2020-09-24
• Primary Completion: 2022-03-01
• Study Completion: 2022-03-01
• Status Verified: 2024-02
• Last Update Submitted: 2024-02-13
• Last Update Posted: 2024-02-15

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: TERMINATED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 1

Inclusion Criteria

1. Aged 60 or older;
2. Community-living;
3. Individuals identified by New Jersey APS as potentially at risk of elder abuse; OR Individuals who have experienced abuse, exploitation, or neglect within the last 3 months (assessed by any "present" or "yes" response to elder abuse questions on the screener).

Exclusion Criteria

1. Live in institutional and/or residential facilities;
2. Have plans to move for the next 3 months;
3. Unable to understand and provide written consent. Capacity to consent will be determined by a score of at least 24 on the Mini-mental state examination;
4. Have impairment in eating, dressing, bathing, walking, transferring, grooming, bladder control, or toileting. These will be determined by any "present" or "positive" item on the Activities of Daily Living (ADLs).

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
elder abuse prevalence	Baseline	Psychological, physical, sexual abuse, financial exploitation, caregiver neglect, and self-neglect. For psychological and physical abuse, we will use 8 items and 10 items from a modified Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS). Sexual abuse will be assessed by a question asking about experiences of being touched in private areas when unwanted. Financial exploitation will be assessed by the 17-item Financial Exploitation Scale, adapted from Conrad et al in a study funded by the Department of Justice. Caregiver neglect will be assessed by 20 items of unmet needs in key activities of daily living. Self-neglect will be assessed by a validated 25-item measurement.; Items will be combined to report whether any vs no abuse/neglect/exploitation was experienced. In addition, multiple definitions of severity can be determined by combining these instruments and using various cut off points to determine severity.
elder abuse incidence	Sixth month since baseline	Psychological, physical, sexual abuse, financial exploitation, caregiver neglect, and self-neglect. For psychological and physical abuse, we will use 8 items and 10 items from a modified Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS). Sexual abuse will be assessed by a question asking about experiences of being touched in private areas when unwanted. Financial exploitation will be assessed by the 17-item Financial Exploitation Scale, adapted from Conrad et al in a study funded by the Department of Justice. Caregiver neglect will be assessed by 20 items of unmet needs in key activities of daily living. Self-neglect will be assessed by a validated 25-item measurement.; Items will be combined to report whether any vs no abuse/neglect/exploitation was experienced. In addition, multiple definitions of severity can be determined by combining these instruments and using various cut off points to determine severity.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Rutgers Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research; 🇺🇸 New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States