Manhattan Elder Abuse Case Coordination and Review Team (EACCRT)


Goals of the Manhattan Elder Abuse Case Coordination and Review Team
  • To coordinate and review cases of elder abuse and neglect (community residing and nursing home)
  • To identify systemic and resource problems that can be brought to the attention of others for strategizing and intervention
  • To identify research needs.
Why is establishing a Manhattan Elder Abuse Case Coordination and Review Team important?

Elder abuse and neglect cases are complex and require multi-disciplinary assessment and interventions from numerous systems. This requires the involvement of multiple organizations to review cases and coordinate assessment and intervention in order to improve outcomes. Currently in NYC, professionals involved in these cases receive consultation and assistance from various disciplines on a catch-as-catch can basis resulting in missed opportunities for assessment, intervention and prosecution. Evidence exists that an improved collaborative response improves effectiveness of each agency's response and efficiently utilizes scarce resources. Collaborating can also lead to innovative research suggestions and initiatives.

  • People suffering from elder abuse and neglect interface with several different and complex systems. Better communications among these systems would make for more efficient and effective interventions. Technology that can aide in this effort is available. That cases are still coordinated today in the same manner as they were in the early eighties—call-who-you-know-to-help-you-figure-out-what-to-do approach—is unacceptable.
  • Researchers benefit from a coordinated approach as well: A city-wide research agenda could be developed, methodologies shared, interpretations discussed and results translated into practice.
  • Federal money will soon be made available. Joining forces will enable providers to formally create a city-wide integrated response system. This system will:
    1) build on our collective strengths, experience and talents;
    2) acknowledge each entity's unique contributions; and
    3) reduce the likelihood of a duplication of efforts.
  • NYC, home to a number of the country's leading research, legal and clinical experts in the field of elder abuse and neglect and has a healthy response network established, is in the position to develop a coordinated response to elder abuse and neglect and to evaluate its effectiveness.

For more information about EACCRT, contact Risa Breckman at [email protected].

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