Elder abuse is often undetected and underreported in primary care settings. Older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias (ADRD) are at increased risk of elder abuse, which increases their risks for hospitalization and mortality. Currently, there is no evidence-based strategy to screen for and prevent elder abuse among older and vulnerable adults with MCI/ADRD.

To address this problem, the National Institute on Aging has awarded $1,111,618 to Monique Pappadis, MEd, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Population Health and Health Disparities, for the grant “Developing, Implementing, and Evaluating a Caregiver and Elder Abuse Screening, Risk Assessment and Treatment to Improve Outcomes for Older and Vulnerable Adults with MCI/ADRD.” This 2-year project aims to create an effective screening and intervention approach, following a Screening, Brief Intervention, Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) model, to improve elder abuse screening in primary care settings and prevent elder abuse while improving caregiver outcomes and training medical providers who serve this high-risk population. Read more: Dr. Pappadis receives $1.1 million in funding from the national institute on Aging to improve elder abuse screening