Mental Health Intervention for Elderly Abuse Victims

Despite increasing recognition of the epidemic of elder abuse, we continue to face barriers helping abuse victims access and use elder abuse resolution services. In addition, many victims suffer from concurrent mental health problems that prevent them from taking the necessary steps to protect themselves. The proposed study will introduce a tailored intervention, built on an evidence-based approach (Problem Solving Therapy), to be delivered through a sustainable mental health program embedded in elder abuse services. The proposed psychotherapy is a brief 8-session weekly intervention that combines problem-solving therapy, anxiety management, and psycho education developed specifically for this population by this team.

The objectives of the project are to: identify the mental health needs of elder abuse victims, provide the mental health treatment, assess the impact of the treatment, and facilitate conditions which will sustain the mental health program.

Inclusion criteria

• Client of the New York City Department for the Aging's (DFTA) Elderly Crime Victims Resource Center
• Score of 10 or higher on the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) or Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale (GAD-7)

Exclusion criteria

• Co-morbid psychiatric disorder other than unipolar non-psychotic major depression that prevents participation in depression and anxiety screening
• Inability to speak or understand English
• Cognitive impairment that prevents participation in screening, as determined by screening social worker