Police Interviewing of Elderly Victims and Witnesses

1. Police Interviewing of Elderly Victims and Witnesses NYC Elder Abuse Training Project, 2004

2. If Mentally or Physically Impaired • Vulnerable to criminals • May seem difficult to interview • Communication impairment • Loss of attention

3. Aids to Interviewing • Current skills: • Courtesy • Patience • Active listening • Knowledge about conditions affecting seniors

4. Elderly Victims Often • Traumatized by abuse • Ambivalent about acknowledging abuse • Confused • May fear police

5. Positive Aspects • Most regard police as “good guys” • Build on this to gain trust • Simple courtesies help gain respect

6. Suggestions • Ask permission to sit near older person at eye level • Keep weapon out of sight • Is victim tired or not feeling well? • Address elder by last name • Convey that your primary concern is his/her welfare

7. More suggestions • Begin with friendly questions • Speak slowly and clearly in short, simple sentences • Ask one question at a time • Avoid leading questions

8. More suggestions • Older persons may need more time to respond than younger victims; wait for response • If elder appears disoriented, ask 4 questions (see slide 19) • If the elder has difficulty remembering when an event occurred, try memory cues, e.g., “What tv program was on?”

9. Strategies for hearing impaired • Having difficulty hearing? • Use a hearing aid? • Prefer written communication?

10. Hearing impaired (continued) • Let person see your lips, face, hands • Eliminate most background noise • Remain 3 to 6 feet away • Don’t speak directly into ear • Establish eye contact before you speak

11. Hearing impaired (continued) • Speak slightly louder; don’t yell • Don’t speed up or over-articulate • If person seems not to understand, re-phrase instead of repeating • If you don’t understand, ask person to re-phrase • Use visual aids (drawings, etc.)

12. Strategies for visually impaired • Ask if they need reading glasses • Use larger type, e.g.14pt • Keep message short and simple

13. Visually impaired (continued) • Move text between edge and center of the person’s field of vision • People with Macular Degeneration have peripheral vision • Can’t see directly in front • Won’t look directly at you

14. Dual sensory impairment • If poor vision and hearing, use all strategies except visual cues • If blind and deaf, use interpreter • Impartial • Not family member or caregiver

15. Background on dementias • Dementia = gradual deterioration in cognitive functioning • Symptoms include: • impaired memory and perception • decreased decision-making abilities

16. Alzheimer’s disease • Most prevalent form of dementia • Culminates in total dependency • Agitation and wandering common • In mid to later stages, psychosis in 50-80% • Paranoia • Delusions • Hallucinations

17. Dementia • Not part of normal aging • 5-8% of those over 65 • Dementia-like symptoms can be caused by delirium or depression, but most dementia irreversible (progressive). • Medical exam can rule out other causes

18. Problems for police • Assess allegations by demented person of theft or intrusion; they may be true • “Masking” = person with recall problem who may say “I don’t have time for this”

19. Mental Status: Orientation Questions • What is your name? • Where do you live? • What is the month? • Who is the President?

20. Communicating with Dementia-Sufferer • May be lucid and provide good info • Consult service provider familiar with person for tips • “Sundowning” = result of cumulative stimulation during course of a day • Usually shows late in day • Agitation (e.g., pacing, loud vocalizing, combativeness) • Postpone interview

21. Strategies for Interview with Dementia Sufferer • Keep area quiet and free of distractions • Begin with orienting info (e.g., purpose of interview) • Offer words of reassurance • Relax; they can sense anxiety • Acknowledge person’s feelings

22. Strategies for Interview with Dementia Sufferer (continued) • Speak slowly in soothing tone, but avoid infantilizing • Give person ample time to respond • Use simple and concrete words • Give simple directions, one step at a time

23. Strategies for Interview with Dementia Sufferer (continued) • Repeat questions as needed • If person upset, try distraction or redirection to calm and refocus • Observe reactions; emotional responses may reveal what words don’t (e.g., abuse)

24. Misuse of Medications • Common • Can cause confusion and disorientation • Abusers often drug elderly victims • Check what meds person takes; ask to see bottles; record info • Ask if other MDs prescribe; ask if person takes over-the-counter meds