Transcript Elder Abuse & Neglect Reporting Protocol introduced at the

Elder Abuse & Neglect Reporting Protocol introduced
at the UCLA School of Dentistry Clinic
Dentists are members of the cadre of health
professionals serving as mandated reporters
of elder abuse and neglect. Older adults
make up a large portion of dental practice
patients; according to the National Health
Interview Survey, 58% of adults over 65
years of age reported at least one visit to the
dentist in 2006.1 Dentists are in a unique
position to detect elder abuse and neglect
because approximately 75% of all physical
domestic violence results in injuries to the
head, neck, and/or mouth area which are
clearly visible to the dental team during
examinations and treatment.2
Educating pre-doctoral dental students about
their responsibilities as mandated reporters of
elder abuse and neglect is one of the first
windows of opportunity to infuse a base level
of detection and reporting competencies in
these future dental professionals.
Further, institutionalizing a detection and
reporting protocol in the dental clinic, where
students practice under direction of clinic
faculty, ensures that academic knowledge is
translated into action.
With support of the Archstone Foundation’s
Elder Abuse and Neglect initiative, an elder
abuse and neglect detection and reporting
protocol
has
been
developed
and
institutionalized (as of July 2009) at the UCLA
Dental Clinic, the community-facing arm of
the UCLA School of Dentistry.
1. National Center for Health Statistics 2007. Health,
United States, 2007 with chart book on trends in the
Health of Americans. Hyattsville, MD.
2. Tilden V, Schmidt T, Limandri B, Chiodo G, Garland
M, Loveless P. 1994. Factors that influence clinician's
assessment and management of family violence.
American Journal of Public Health. 84(4), 628-633.
UCLA Dental Clinic Elder Abuse & Neglect Screening and Reporting Protocol
If your clinic patient is over 65 or a dependent adult (someone with a physical, developmental
or emotional disability who is wholly or partially dependent upon one or more other persons for
care or support) ask the following questions:
1) Are you afraid of anyone at your home or care facility?
2) Do you ever feel your medications are not available when you need them?
3) Are you ever in need of help with brushing, flossing or taking care of your teeth but not
able to find someone to help you?
If your patient answers “YES” to any of the three questions, this may indicate possible abuse or
neglect. You are instructed to notify a group director and refer to Reporting Suspected Elder
Abuse or Neglect protocol in the house staff manual.
Project Funded by Archstone Foundation
Elder Abuse & Neglect Initiative #08-01-04
Contact:
Melanie Gironda, MSW, PhD
Adjunct Assistant Professor
UCLA School of Dentistry
[email protected]