Elder abuse and mistreatment: results from medicare claims data

Charles P. Mouton, Allen Haas, Amol Karmarkar, Yong Fang Kuo, Kenneth Ottenbacher

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Elder abuse and mistreatment (EM) continues to be a growing problem as the US population ages. Despite the growth, detection of EM continues to lag. However, Medicare claims data and the electronic health record might provide an opportunity to encourage better detection. We evaluated Medicare claims data from 2012–2014 for beneficiaries who had a diagnostic code for EM discharged from any types of facility. We extracted records for 10,181 individuals examining demographic characteristics, residential characteristics, residential location, type of facility providing care, disease co-morbidities, and disability-related conditions. Of our sample, most were female (65.1%), white (78.8%), over 75 years of age (52.6%), and from an urban setting (85.2%). While the greatest number were discharged from acute care settings, almost one-third were hospitalized in psychiatric hospitals (34.6%). Mood disorders (27.5%) and dementia (14.2%) were the most common primary diagnoses. Hypertension (67.7%), depression (44.6%), fluid and electrolyte disorder (43.6%), and cardiac arrhythmia (28.2%) were the most common co-morbidities. In Medicare claims data, we found unique features and co-morbidities associated with EM. These findings could be used to develop a clinical algorithm predictive of older adults requiring screening for EM.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)263-280
Number of pages18
JournalJournal of Elder Abuse and Neglect
Volume31
Issue number4-5
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 20 2019

Keywords

  • Elder abuse
  • co-morbidity
  • medicare

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Social Sciences (miscellaneous)
  • Geriatrics and Gerontology

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