Utilization of Healthcare Sources by Elder Abuse Victim at the Emergency Department

Aim: Elder abuse may result in serious injuries with significant psychological consequences, leading to increased use of emergency department (ED) for trauma-related presentations. We aimed to describe the utilization of healthcare resources by victims of elder abuse. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study was conducted. Victims of elder abuse that were 65 years or older and presented between August 2018 and December 2020 were included. Information on demographics, mode of arrival, place and mechanism of injury, sustained injuries, injury severity score (ISS), disposition, and length of stay were collected and analyzed. Results: There were 33 (0.3%) victims of elder abuse. The median age was 69-year old (interquartile range: 66 to 76) and 23 (68.8%) participants were female. Majority (n=32, 97.0%) of patients sustained blunt injuries, with contusions to the limbs and head being the most common. The injuries were mostly minor to moderate in severity (ISS 8 or less: n=32, 97.0%). The utilization of healthcare resources was low: only two (6.1%) required ambulance transport to the ED, one (3.0%) required activation of the trauma team, one (3.0%) required surgery, and one (3.0%) required transfusion of blood products. However, 12 (36.4%) patients were admitted to the hospital, and five (15.2%) were admitted to the observation unit of the ED. Conclusion: Utilization of healthcare resource for injuries related to elder abuse was low. However, identification remains a challenge, and it is crucial for teams in the ED to be cognizant of elder abuse, as management should go beyond treating the injuries by including case notification, psychosocial assessment, and caregiver support.