What do we mean by trauma-informed services and why is such an approach important?
- The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) Archive has a resource on its website called: First Response to Victims of Crime Elderly Victims . When elderly people are victimized, they usually suffer greater physical, mental, and financial injuries than other age groups. As a first responder, you can do much to restore confidence in and maintain the dignity of the elderly victims you work with using a trauma-informed approach.
- The National Center for PTSD from the US Department of Veterans Affairs provides information on their website entitled: Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms among Older Adults: A Review. Resources on the aging population are important as demographic patterns across the globe are changing, and older people constitute a growing proportion of the population. Significant to professionals working with older adults is the understanding, assessment, and treatment of posttraumatic stress, as symptoms can emerge or re-emerge late in life.
- The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has developed a list of Elder Abuse: Risk and Protective Factors. This resource can provide useful information when seeking to use a trauma-informed approach with this population.
- Social Support and Health Related Quality of Life Among Older Adults was developed by the CDC. Social support can be critical for those older adults who rely on family, friends, or organizations to assist them with daily activities, provide companionship, and care for their wellbeing. The 1965 Older Americans Act recognized the need for social support by requiring that agencies on aging provide in-home services and group meals to foster social interaction.
What are the key issues in making sure my agency does not re-traumatize our clients?
- The California Center of Excellence for Trauma-informed Care (CCETIC) is committed to helping trauma-exposed people achieve safety, connection and empowerment. They strive to work more effectively with clients by better understanding trauma and focusing on safety. The CCETIC’s presentation entitled Working with Elders with Trauma Histories , provides valuable information using a trauma-informed approach with the aging.
- Kennedy Krieger Institute is an internationally recognized institution dedicated to improving the lives of children and young adults with pediatric developmental disabilities and disorders of the brain, spinal cord and musculoskeletal system, through patient care, special education, research, and professional training. Their PowerPoint presentation contains some good, practical information related to Assessing, Intervening, and Treating Traumatized Older Adults (PDF).
Additional Resources
- Identifying Vulnerable Older Adults and Legal Options for Increasing Their Protection During All-Hazards Emergencies: A Cross-Sector Guide for States and Communities (PDF) provides trauma-informed information and resources for the aging population.
Elder Abuse Surveillance: Uniform Definitions and Recommended Core Data Elements is a resource produced by the CDC which gathers information on violence prevention for the aging population. Additional resources can be found on this website including information related to Risk & Protective Factors, Consequences , and Prevention Strategies .