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Interviewing the Elderly

Interviewing the Elderly. Chapter 8. Demographics of the Elder Population. America is no longer dominated by the youth In 1983, the elderly population surpassed the number of teenagers By 2030, 1 in 5 Americans will be elderly Elderly is defined as being aged 65 and older.

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Interviewing the Elderly

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  1. Interviewing the Elderly Chapter 8 8-1

  2. Demographics of the Elder Population • America is no longer dominated by the youth • In 1983, the elderly population surpassed the number of teenagers • By 2030, 1 in 5 Americans will be elderly • Elderly is defined as being aged 65 and older

  3. Crimes Against the Elderly • The majority of violence against elders is domestic abuse • Self-neglect • Abandonment • Active neglect • Passive neglect • Physical abuse • Sexual abuse

  4. Fiduciary Abuse • Financial exploitation or economic abuse of elders • Committed by strangers • Perpetrated by family or caregivers

  5. Indicators of Fiduciary Abuse • Uncharacteristic bank activity • Suspicious activity on credit card • Frequent or unauthorized use of ATM card • An un-witnessed will has been drawn up

  6. Elder Assessment • The purpose of the assessment is to establish if any vulnerability or impairment exists that might affect the interview

  7. Elder Assessment: • If the elder has difficulty in answering simple questions • If the elder has difficulty seeing or hearing • If he or she needs ancillary devices such as a hearing aid or eyeglasses • If the elder is physically self-sufficient • If the elder is financially self-sufficient

  8. Questioning the Older Person • Pre-Interview • Assessment through conversation-observing evaluation

  9. Conversation-observing Evaluation • Be open-minded • Speak with the elder at a place where they are comfortable, typically their own home • This is a “friendly visit” for the purpose of observing • Sit face to face with the elder • Do not take notes without permission • Introduce yourself and generally state your purpose • Ask the person for their full name • Refer to the elder by his or her title

  10. Conducting the Interview • Prepare for the interview • Establish rapport • Conduct the interview • End the interview • Follow up

  11. Step 1: • Prepare for the interview • Choose quiet location

  12. Step 2: • Establish rapport • Show respect

  13. Step 3: • Conduct the interview • Avoid suggesting responses

  14. Step 4: • End the interview • Address objections involving family members

  15. Step 5: • Follow-up • Make referrals when needed

  16. The Elder as a Witness • Do not assume that the elder suffers from dementia or senility • Is there alcohol or drug overuse? • Is there abnormal sensatory performance? • Do they need glasses or hearing aid?

  17. The Elder as a Witness • Speak face to face • Do not smoke, chew gum, or cover your mouth • Do not speak too quickly • Establish eye contact

  18. Cognitive Limitations • No evidence of an age-related vulnerability to misinformation; contamination is a problem in all age groups. • Memory jogging techniques may enhance the recall for elder victims. • Patience may be needed to allow the elder the time she or he needs to answer a question.

  19. Source Confusion • Elders are more susceptible to source confusion than younger adults • Elders are also likely to act more confident regardless of their source misinformation

  20. What is Source Confusion? • It is difficulty in distinguishing what they have witnessed themselves as opposed to what they may have heard from someone else. • Or a problem identifying the exact source of the information

  21. Recall • There is a significant difference in free recall between young adults (age 21) and elders (age 70) • Older adult witnesses provide fewer descriptions of the perpetrator (physical, clothing, etc.)

  22. Face Recognition by Elder Witnesses • Older adults (60 – 80) are more likely to “false alarm” to new faces. In other words they are more likely to falsely recognize a face they had not seen previously • In the eyewitness identification setting, they are more prone to making false choices

  23. Concerns Due to Dependence • A common risk factor exists when the caretaker is financially dependent on the elder

  24. Types of Dependence • Care provided with or without contract • Does it appear that the caregiver has been reluctant to supply the elder with eyeglasses, dental care, medications, or other needed services? • Is the elder incontinent with bedsores? • One who has accepted personal gifts from the elder

  25. Interdisciplinary Interviewing • The majority of reports concerning elder abuse are made to adult protective services rather than the police • Multi-disciplinary teams represent an example of current approaches to the crimes affecting seniors

  26. Mandatory Elder Abuse Reporting • All 50 states, the District of Columbia, and some U.S. territories require professionals to report suspected abuse or neglect of the elderly

  27. Crime Perpetrated by Elders • As people get older they commit less crime. This is referred to as aging out • Approximately one-third of domestic abusers are persons aged 60 and above • In domestic violence among older married couples the woman is as likely as the man to be the abuser

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