title: Eliciting change in at-risk elders (ECARE): evaluation of an elder abuse intervention program.
abstract: The current study evaluated the effectiveness of a community-based elder abuse intervention program that assists suspected victims of elder abuse and self-neglect through a partnership with local law enforcement. This program, Eliciting Change in At-Risk Elders, involves building alliances with the elder and family members, connecting the elder to supportive services that reduce risk of further abuse, and utilizing motivational interviewing-type skills to help elders overcome ambivalence regarding making difficult life changes. Risk factors of elder abuse decreased over the course of the intervention and nearly three-quarters of participants made progress on their treatment goal, advancing at least one of Prochaska and DiClemente's (1983) stages of change (precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance). Forty-three percent of elders moved into the stages of action and maintenance regarding their goal. The usefulness of eliciting change via longer-term relationships with vulnerable elders in entrenched elder abuse situations is discussed.
authors.affiliation: a Heritage Clinic , Pasadena , California , USA.
authors.forename: Lydia Morris
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Mariam
authors.forename: Regina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McClure
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: Janet A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003376:Counseling; D004552:Elder Abuse / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D015397:Program Evaluation; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: elder abuse intervention; risk factors for abuse; self-neglect