Aging Institute awards NYU study grant

The National Institute on Aging awarded a grant to researchers at NYU's College of Nursing and College of Dentistry this month to study elder mistreatment, a phenomenon that affects as many as 700,000 to two million lives annually.

The institute is providing a two-year, $346,000 grant to College of Nursing Dean Terry Fulmer and co-investigator Sheryl Strasser, and College of Dentistry co-investigator Stefanie Russell.

In an e-mail, Strasser said that while "it is estimated that between 700,000 and 1.2 million lives are affected annually [in cases of elder mistreatment], some have put this number even higher at 1-2 million annually."

Despite that, no national prevalence study has been conducted so far. "Only one study has attempted to estimate the U.S. incidence of [elder mistreatment]," Strasser said.

According to a press release, the researchers will conduct screenings for elder mistreatment among older adults who visit doctors at five primary care clinics.

"Elder mistreatment is a potentially fatal public health problem that causes human suffering and preventable morbidity and mortality," Strasser said.

Common examples of elder mistreatment include ulcers, excoriations from urine burns, fractures, depression and even death, Strasser said.

"Ageism, lack of professional training and a dearth of research have converged to make this a devastating problem with no known solutions," she added.

Although a significant contributor to death and disease in U.S. elders, relatively little is known regarding EM.

"In the scientific literature, fewer than 50 peer-reviewed articles based on empirical research have been published in the field," Strasser said.

This study will be the first of its kind to use screening and rescreening of a large urban setting for a community-wide approach to identify the prevalence and incidence of EM.

Strasser also said New York City's diversity will afford opportunities to examine whether EM subtypes of physical abuse, neglect and psychological abuse can be detected in busy primary care clinics.

The project's goal is to "establish the feasibility of EM screening in primary care settings administered during patient visits, administered by trained clinician screeners at baseline and six-month follow-up using multiple instruments," according to the press release.

Strasser also emphasized the issue's significance and the necessity of a comprehensive study of EM.

"Until all clinicians in contact with older adults incorporate EM screening and treatment in their practice, there will be little progress on this serious clinical problem," Strasser said.

Hilary Tuttle is a staff writer. E-mail her at news@nyunews.com.