Interviewing Elders Chapter 8. Smart Talk: Contemporary Interviewing and Interrogation By Denise Kindschi Gosselin PRENTICE HALL ©2006 Pearson Education,

Interviewing Elders

Chapter 8

Smart Talk: Contemporary Interviewing and InterrogationBy Denise Kindschi Gosselin

PRENTICE HALL©2006 Pearson Education, Inc.Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

8-2

Demographics of the Elder Population America is no longer

dominated by the youth!

In 1983 the elderly population surpassed the number of teenagers.

By 2030, 1 in 5 Americans will be elderly.

Elderly is defined as being aged 65 and older.



8-3

Crimes Against the Elderly domestic abuse The majority

of crimes against elders is domestic abuse

Perpetrated by family or caregivers

1. Self-neglect

2. Abandonment

3. Active neglect

4. Passive neglect

5. Physical abuse

6. Sexual abuse



8-4

Fiduciary Abuse

Financial exploitation or economic abuse of elders Committed by

strangers Perpetrated by

family or caregivers Perpetrated by family or caregivers

Uncharacteristic bank activity

Suspicious activity on credit card use

Frequent or unauthorized use of ATM card

An un-witnessed will has been drawn up



8-5

Questioning the Older Person Pre-Interview

Assessment through conversation-observing evaluation

The purpose of the assessment is to establish if any vulnerability or impairment exists that might affect the interview



8-6

Conversation-observing Evaluation Be open-minded Speak with the elder at a place where

they are comfortable, typically their own home

This is a “friendly visit” for the purpose of observing

Sit face to face with the elder Do not take notes without permission Introduce yourself and generally state

your purpose Ask the person for their full name Refer to the elder by his or her title



8-7

Determine in an Elder Assessment If the elder has difficulty in answering

simple questions If the elder has difficulty seeing or

hearing If he or she needs ancillary devises such

as a hearing aid or eye glasses If the elder is physically self-sufficient If the elder is financially self-sufficient



8-8

Steps of the Elder Interview

1. Prepare for the Interview

Establish Rapport

Conduct the Interview

End the Interview

Follow Up

Choose quiet location

Show respect Avoid suggesting

responses Address

objections involving family members

Make referrals when needed



8-9

The Elder as a Witness

The vast majority of elder witnesses are capable of giving accurate and reliable information regarding victimization Do not assume

that the elder suffers from dementia or senility



8-10

Physical Limitations Visual & Hearing Loss

Normal sensatory changes due to aging include visual and hearing loss Is there abnormal

sensatory performance?

Do they need glasses or hearing aid?

Speak face to face

Do not smoke, chew gum, or cover your mouth

Do not speak too quickly

Establish eye contact



8-11

Cognitive Limitations

No evidence of an age-related vulnerability to misinformation, contamination is a problem in all age groups

Memory jogging techniques may enhance the recall for elder victims

Patience may be needed to allow the elder the time she or he needs to answer a question



8-12

Source Confusion

Elders are more susceptible to source confusion than younger adults

Elders are also likely to act more confident regardless of their source misinformation



8-13

What is Source Confusion? It is difficulty in distinguishing what

they have witnessed themselves as opposed to what they may have heard from someone else, or a problem identifying the exact source of the information



8-14

Recall Expectations

There is a significant difference in free recall between young adults (age 21) & elders (age 70).

Older adult witnesses provide fewer descriptions of the perpetrator (physical, clothing, etc.)



8-15

Face Recognition by Elder Witnesses

Older adults (60 – 80) are more likely to ‘false alarm’ to new faces. In other words they are more likely to falsely recognize a face they had not seen previously.

In the eyewitness identification setting, they are more prone to making false choices.



8-16

Concerns due to Dependence A common risk

factor exists when the caretaker is financially dependent on the elder

Care provided with or without contract

Does it appear that the caregiver has been reluctant to supply the elder with eyeglasses, dental care, medications, or other needed services?

Is the elder incontinent with bedsores?

One who has accepted personal gifts from the elder



8-17

Interdisciplinary Interviewing Multi-disciplinary

teams represent an example of current approaches to the crimes affecting seniors

Investigations should be coordinated with adult protective services or the ombudsman whenever possible to establish cooperative models of intervention



8-18

Mandatory Elder Abuse Reporting All 50 states, the

District of Columbia, and some U.S. territories require professionals to report suspected abuse or neglect of the elderly

The majority of reports concerning elder abuse are made to adult protective services rather than the police



8-19

Crime Perpetrated by Elders As people get older they commit

less crime, this is referred to as aging out

Approximately one-third of domestic abusers against the elderly are persons aged 60 and above

In domestic violence among older married couples the woman is as likely as the man to be the abuser

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Interviewing Elders Chapter 8. Smart Talk: Contemporary Interviewing and Interrogation By Denise Kindschi Gosselin PRENTICE HALL ©2006 Pearson Education,