Stemming the Tide of Elder Mistreatment: A Medical School–State Agency Collaborative

In 1995, the Texas Department of Family and Protective ServicesAdult Protective Service Agency began a partnership with the Baylor College of Medicine geriatrics program to form the Texas Elder Abuse and Mistreatment (TEAM) Institute. The medical school–state agency partners overcame institutional and bureaucratic barriers to work collaboratively on mutually beneficial projects, including research and publications. Interprofessional students gained first-hand experience about abuse and neglect cases. As of 2019, there are 4 divisionsClinical and Forensic Evaluation, Education and Outreach, Research and Program Evaluation, and Senior Justice. TEAM members have published numerous articles and chapters, educated members from multiple disciplines, and served thousands of mistreated older patients. In 2017, TEAM launched the first statewide telecommunication program for elder mistreatment to improve practice for the entire state. Perseverance, teamwork, and dedication to the mission of the intervention and prevention of elder mistreatment have sustained this program for over 30 years. This article describes the steps to forming TEAM, the institute’s early struggles, and the subsequent community and academic contributions of this medical school–state agency collaboration.