Family, Internal, Emergency, and Psychiatry Medical Residents and Geriatric Fellows
As mandated reporters, physicians require training to screen, recognize, and respond to elder mistreatment in the clinical setting. Developed through the collaboration of elder abuse experts, geriatricians, and primary care physicians from the University of Southern California, University of California, Irvine, University of California, San Diego, and University of California, San Francisco, this interactive curriculum is available to integrate into residency and fellowship training programs.
Content is presented in an engaging, interactive format. National experts provide clinical pearls and knowledge drawn from years of experience and translational research. Material is delivered through didactic learning and expert instruction, coupled with interactive practicum exercises, experiential learning activities, role play scenarios, ethical dilemmas, and facilitated discussions. Instruction will engage the learners, animate the delivery of information, and optimize the learning exchange.
*Residency Directors: Please reserve time in your training schedule for this important educational opportunity
The Elder Abuse Curriculum
Modules 1 – 4
30-minute, self-directed learning modules:
In this module you will learn the forms of elder mistreatment and to identify the signs and consequences. Applying the Abuse Intervention/Prevention Model (AIM) you will be exposed to the victim, perpetrator, and contextual risk factors that predict risk for abuse and that serve as protective factors.
This module will provide and demonstrate practical tools to screen and document abuse in the clinical setting. In addition, learners will be taught the important sources of evaluation data including social and medical history, physical exam, lab findings, imaging, and observation. Barriers to patient disclosure will also be addressed.
This module focuses on addressing the needs of diverse patient populations. Learners will gain insight into the factors that can increase the risk for abuse, such as cognitive, sensory, and functional limitations. The heightened risk and specialized needs of diverse populations, including older adults with disabilities, communities of color, LGBTQIA+, unhoused elders, and those in long-term care will be discussed.
This module walks learners through the process of reporting suspected mistreatment to the appropriate authorities. Learners will also be taught to develop a care plan that aligns with patient goals and increases safety. Critical strategies to engage interprofessional referrals and community resources are provided.
Modules 5 – 6
This summary module integrates the content from modules 1 – 4 to provide a succinct review or an abbreviated exposure to the most pertinent curriculum content. Signs and risk factors, screening, documentation, reporting, intervention, and response are all briefly presented.
This faculty-facilitated experiential module will provide small groups of learners the opportunity to develop applied skills in identifying the signs and risk factors of elder mistreatment through a video simulated patient encounter. Learners will practice administering an elder abuse screen and filing an APS report. Optional lessons and simulations take a deeper dive into more complex clinical skills that address patient confidentiality, intervention strategies, and trauma-informed care response.
Plan A: Complete Curriculum
Assign Modules 1-4 (asynchronous, 2 hours total) & Module 6 (faculty facilitated, 1 hour or 90 mins)
Plan B: Abbreviated Curriculum
Assign Module 5 (asynchronous,1 hour) & Module 6 (faculty facilitated,1 hour or 90 min)
For more information on the curriculum, please contact Carmen.vandenheever@med.usc.edu
