Themes from a grounded theory analysis of elder neglect assessment by experts.
OBJECTIVE
This paper describes one program that has developed a screening procedure for assessing elder mistreatment, with a special focus on elder neglect. The aim is to understand how expert neglect assessment teams process and diagnose complex geriatric cases referred for suspected elder neglect. What are the key themes that must be understood in order to determine if neglect should be suspected and confirmed?


METHODS
Transcripts of audio recordings of neglect assessment team meetings were analyzed by using grounded theory analysis.


RESULTS
Four major themes emerged from the analysis of the transcripts. These themes were understanding the underlying health status of the elder and caregiver, understanding the socioeconomic and life circumstances of the dyad, credibility of data collected by others, and the consequences of the assessment outcome.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings offer insight into the development of future clinical screening and assessment procedures used to make diagnoses about elder neglect, as well as the guidelines that govern neglect assessment. Understanding not only the high-risk signs and symptoms but also the context and consequences of neglect is critical. Future screening and assessment procedures should be developed with these data in mind.
Division of Nursing, New York University, New York, 10003-6677, USA. terry.fulmer@nyu.edu
Terry
T
Fulmer
Adolfo
A
Firpo
Lisa
L
Guadagno
Tara M
TM
Easter
Fay
F
Kahan
Barbara
B
Paris
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers; D004552:Elder Abuse / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009519:New York City; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors