Police Interviewing of Elderly Victims and Witnesses

1
Police Interviewing of Elderly Victims and
Witnesses

• NYC Elder Abuse Training Project, 2004

2
If Mentally or Physically Impaired

• Vulnerable to criminals
• May seem difficult to interview
• Communication impairment
• Loss of attention

3
Aids to Interviewing

• Current skills
• Courtesy
• Patience
• Active listening
• Knowledge about conditions affecting seniors

4
Elderly Victims Often

• Traumatized by abuse
• Ambivalent about acknowledging abuse
• Confused
• May fear police

5
Positive Aspects

• Most regard police as good guys
• Build on this to gain trust
• Simple courtesies help gain respect

6
Suggestions

• Ask permission to sit near older person at eye
  level
• Keep weapon out of sight
• Is victim tired or not feeling well?
• Address elder by last name
• Convey that your primary concern is his/her
  welfare

7
More suggestions

• Begin with friendly questions
• Speak slowly and clearly in short, simple
  sentences
• Ask one question at a time
• Avoid leading questions

8
More suggestions

• Older persons may need more time to respond than
  younger victims wait for response
• If elder appears disoriented, ask 4 questions
  (see slide 19)
• If the elder has difficulty remembering when an
  event occurred, try memory cues, e.g., What tv
  program was on?

9
Strategies for hearing impaired

• Having difficulty hearing?
• Use a hearing aid?
• Prefer written communication?

10
Hearing impaired (continued)

• Let person see your lips, face, hands
• Eliminate most background noise
• Remain 3 to 6 feet away
• Dont speak directly into ear
• Establish eye contact before you speak

11
Hearing impaired (continued)

• Speak slightly louder dont yell
• Dont speed up or over-articulate
• If person seems not to understand, re-phrase
  instead of repeating
• If you dont understand, ask person to re-phrase
• Use visual aids (drawings, etc.)

12
Strategies for visually impaired

• Ask if they need reading glasses
• Use larger type, e.g. 14pt
• Keep message short and simple

13
Visually impaired (continued)

• Move text between edge and center of the persons
  field of vision
• People with Macular Degeneration have peripheral
  vision
• Cant see directly in front
• Wont look directly at you

14
Dual sensory impairment

• If poor vision and hearing, use all strategies
  except visual cues
• If blind and deaf, use interpreter
• Impartial
• Not family member or caregiver

15
Background on dementias

• Dementia gradual deterioration in cognitive
  functioning
• Symptoms include
• impaired memory and perception
• decreased decision-making abilities

16
Alzheimers disease

• Most prevalent form of dementia
• Culminates in total dependency
• Agitation and wandering common
• In mid to later stages, psychosis in 50-80
• Paranoia
• Delusions
• Hallucinations

17
Dementia

• Not part of normal aging
• 5-8 of those over 65
• Dementia-like symptoms can be caused by delirium
  or depression, but most dementia irreversible
  (progressive).
• Medical exam can rule out other causes

18
Problems for police

• Assess allegations by demented person of theft or
  intrusion they may be true
• Masking person with recall problem who may
  say I dont have time for this

19
Mental Status Orientation Questions

• What is your name?
• Where do you live?
• What is the month?
• Who is the President?

20
Communicating with Dementia-Sufferer

• May be lucid and provide good info
• Consult service provider familiar with person for
  tips
• Sundowning result of cumulative stimulation
  during course of a day
• Usually shows late in day
• Agitation (e.g., pacing, loud vocalizing,
  combativeness)
• Postpone interview

21
Strategies for Interview with Dementia Sufferer

• Keep area quiet and free of distractions
• Begin with orienting info (e.g., purpose of
  interview)
• Offer words of reassurance
• Relax they can sense anxiety
• Acknowledge persons feelings

22
Strategies for Interview with Dementia Sufferer
(continued)

• Speak slowly in soothing tone, but avoid
  infantilizing
• Give person ample time to respond
• Use simple and concrete words
• Give simple directions, one step at a time

23
Strategies for Interview with Dementia Sufferer
(continued)

• Repeat questions as needed
• If person upset, try distraction or redirection
  to calm and refocus
• Observe reactions emotional responses may reveal
  what words dont (e.g., abuse)

24
Misuse of Medications

• Common
• Can cause confusion and disorientation
• Abusers often drug elderly victims
• Check what meds person takes ask to see bottles
  record info
• Ask if other MDs prescribe ask if person takes
  over-the-counter meds