This course, from the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention's Prevention Pathways Web site, examines substance abuse and other risk factors for elder abuse and identifies intervention techniques and effective prevention activities at the individual, family, and community levels. Continuing Education Units (CEUs) may be available from the National Association of Social Workers, the National Commission of Health Education Credentialing, Inc., and the National Board for Certified Counselors.

This course addresses the following topics:

•  Introduction to elder abuse
  • Acknowledging the problem
  • Scope of problem
  • Recognizing the cost to society
  • Uncovering the hidden problem
  • Understanding risk factors for abuse
  • Cultural factors in elder abuse
• The basics of elder abuse
  • The problem of elder abuse and neglect
  • Age-related vulnerabilities
  • Defining abuse and neglect
  • Who are the victims?
  • Characteristics of victims
  • Who are the abusers?
  • Characteristics of abusers
  • Where does elder abuse occur?
  • Why does elder abuse occur?
  • Theories of elder abuse
  • Consequences of abuse and neglect
  • Need for data and research
• Substance use and other risk factors
  • Risk factors for abuse and neglect
  • Sociodemographic factors
  • Substance use as a risk factor
  • Substance use by elder abuse victims
  • Substance use by perpetrators of elder abuse
  • The link between elder abuse and substance abuse
  • Substance abuse as a barrier
  • Diagnosis difficulties
  • Future trends
• Screening and assessment
  • What is screening and assessment?
  • Who can screen for elder abuse?
  • What are the indicators of elder abuse?
  • Indicators of nursing home abuse and neglect
  • How to assess abuse
  • Barriers to identifying elder abuse
• Intervention and treatment
  • Intervention and treatment goals
  • Intervention basics
  • Adult protective services
  • Reporting elder abuse
  • Nursing home abuse
  • Intervention options
• Preventing elder abuse
  • Bringing elder abuse out in the open
  • Community-wide prevention
  • Reducing risk factors and enhancing protective factors
  • Preventing elder abuse by family caregivers
  • Preventing elder abuse by in-home helpers
  • Preventing elder abuse in long-term care settings
  • What can individuals and families do?
  • What can professionals do?
  • What can communities do?
  • Prevention strategies