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Geriatrics program creates elder abuse resource for police

‘Cheat sheet’ is intended to aid California law enforcement and emergency personnel

January 03, 2013
The 368+ app is intended to be a resource for law enforcement and first responders who suspect elder abuse or neglect.

One in 10 older Americans experiences abuse or neglect each year, and the number of reported cases is growing at a time when resources necessary to properly respond are shrinking. To assist California law enforcement personnel in dealing with this problem, the UC Irvine Center of Excellence on Elder Abuse & Neglect has partnered with the Bay Area’s nonprofit Institute on Aging to develop a mobile app called 368+ Elder & Dependent Adult Abuse Guide for CA Law Enforcement.

“We want to provide law enforcement agencies and emergency first responders with a ‘cheat sheet’ about the signs of elder abuse and neglect, the penal code and other resources,” said Dr. Laura Mosqueda, chair of UC Irvine’s Department of Family Medicine and director of the university’s geriatrics program and Center of Excellence on Elder Abuse & Neglect.

The resultant app – achieved with input from colleagues in law enforcement, civil law and medicine – features:

  • Warning signs of abuse, neglect and financial exploitation – what to look for in the home environment, caretaker behavior, senior or dependent adult with a disability;
  • An easy-to-reference summary of California Penal Code 368 (concerning the abuse of elder and dependent adults) and other common crimes/charges that may accompany a PC 368 arrest;
  • Quick tips on memory loss, people with dementia as witnesses, documenting the caretaker’s role, and assessing such injuries as bruises and pressure sores;
  • Agency contacts for cross-reporting and victim assistance;
  • Short training videos; and
  • A way to sign up for bimonthly elder abuse news.

For a limited time, the app – designed to run on iPhones, iPads and Droid devices – is available at no cost, thanks to supporters including the Archstone Foundation, UniHealth Foundation, and the San Francisco Department on the Status of Women. It is also viewable on mobile Web browsers. To download a free app or learn more, visit www.centeronelderabuse.org/368ElderAbuseCA.asp.

The Center of Excellence on Elder Abuse & Neglect at UC Irvine is a pioneer in efforts to raise awareness and reduce the incidence of elder abuse in the U.S. A national and international model, it is a source of technical assistance, multidisciplinary training, research and policy briefs. The center also serves as a living laboratory of innovative approaches to eliminating the abuse, neglect, mistreatment and exploitation of seniors.

UC Irvine’s geriatrics program is ranked among the top 50 in the country by U.S. News & World Report. In September 2011, the U.S. Administration on Aging designated it as the National Center on Elder Abuse, a clearinghouse for practical information supporting federal, state and local work to prevent, identify and effectively respond to elder abuse.

About the Institute on Aging: A community-based nonprofit organization that touches the lives of thousands in the Bay Area, the IOA offers services that enable adults to maintain their health, well-being, independence and social participation. For more than 25 years, the IOA has developed and provided innovative programs in health, social services, creative arts, and community and professional education. For more information, visit www.IOAging.org or call 415-750-4111.

About the University of California, Irvine: Founded in 1965, UC Irvine is a top-ranked university dedicated to research, scholarship and community service. Led by Chancellor Michael Drake since 2005, UC Irvine is among the most dynamic campuses in the University of California system, with nearly 28,000 undergraduate and graduate students, 1,100 faculty and 9,000 staff. Orange County’s second-largest employer, UC Irvine contributes an annual economic impact of $4 billion. For more UC Irvine news, visit news.uci.edu.

News Radio: UC Irvine maintains on campus an ISDN line for conducting interviews with its faculty and experts. Use of this line is available for a fee to radio news programs/stations that wish to interview UC Irvine faculty and experts. Use of the ISDN line is subject to availability and approval by the university.