Michigan Physicians' Conference on Elder Abuse. Final Report.

The final report describes the Michigan Physicians' Conference on Elder Abuse project. The project conference had four major content areas, including: a general introduction to the problem of elder abuse; clinical symptoms of abuse; legal issues; and referral and case management techniques. Training techniques included lectures, group discussion, question and answer sessions, slides, and videotapes. The project's purpose is to provide Michigan physicians with training to assist them in carrying out the requirements of a new legal mandate that requires physicians, like other health and social services workers, to report suspected cases of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of vulnerable adults, including the elderly, to the Michigan Department of Social Services Division of Adult Protective Services. Following a list of the program's policies there is a literature review which describes the research done (mostly in the 1980s) on elder abuse, including identifying those who need assistance, institutional abuse, services for the victims, the laws on abuse and neglect, and the physician's role in identifying and treating elder abuse and neglect. Finally, the development of the project's training program is outlined from site selections to training material development and evaluation. An appendix contains conference materials (brochures, flyers, maps, agenda, etc.), the conference evaluation questionnaire, and other materials. Contains 132 references. (GLR)