To protect and serve: a review of initiatives to support of police officers to better meet the needs of older adult
| Date | 01 January 2025 |
| Pages | 15-39 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JAP-07-2024-0036 |
| Published date | 01 January 2025 |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Vulnerable groups,Adult protection,Safeguarding,Sociology,Sociology of the family,Abuse |
| Author | Kristina Marie Kokorelias,Adam Christopher,Anna Grosse,Joshua Wyman,Samir K. Sinha |
To protect and serve: a review of initiatives
to support of police officers to better meet
the needs of older adult
Kristina Marie Kokorelias, Adam Christopher, Anna Grosse, Joshua Wyman and
Samir K. Sinha
Abstract
Purpose –Police officers increasinglyrespond to incidents involving aging-relatedissues, where older
adults are vulnerableand require tailored approaches.This scoping review aims to map initiativesaimed
at enhancing interactionsbetween older adults and police and evaluatesoutcomes. Findings inform the
development of a geriatrics-focused police training curriculum to support age-friendly policing. A
literaturesearch across major databases and grey literatureyielded 20 relevant publications. Threemain
initiatives were identified: geriatrics-oriented training programs, specialized geriatric police units and
geriatrics-oriented policing guidelines. These insightshighlight effective strategies for improving police
responsesto aging-related challenges andguide future research and policy inthis domain.
Design/methodology/approach –The study employed a scoping review methodology guided by the
Joanna Briggs Institute Manual and PRISMA-ScR checklist. A comprehensive search strategy was
developedand executed across multiple databasesand grey literature sources. Screeningand selection
of relevant studies were conducted in duplicate, with data extraction focusing on key elementssuch as
study objectives, design, interventions and outcomes. Thematic analysis was employed to synthesize
findings from included studies, highlighting three principal initiatives: geriatrics-oriented training
programs, specialized geriatric police units and geriatrics-oriented policing guidelines. This approach
aimed to map existingevidence, inform the development of a geriatrics-focusedtraining curriculum and
identifybest practices for age-friendlypolicing.
Findings –The scoping review identified 28 studies meeting inclusion criteria. Findings highlighted
varied approaches to enhancing police interactions with older adults, emphasizing training as pivotal.
Effective strategies included specialized units, tailored training programs and guidelines integrating
geriatrics principles. Key outcomes encompassed improved officer knowledge, communication skills
and attitudes toward older adults, fostering enhanced service delivery and community relations.
Evidenceunderscored the importance of ongoingeducation and collaborative partnershipsin optimizing
policingresponses to aging populations, advocatingfor sustainable, age-friendly policingpractices.
Research limitations/implications –The review’s limitations stem from primarily English-language
studies, potentially overlooking non-English literature. Variability in study designs and outcomes poses
challenges to synthesizing findings comprehensively. Limited generalizability may result due to
geographicand cultural differences in policing practices.Future research could benefit from longitudinal
studies assessing long-term impacts and broader inclusion of diverse policing contexts and
perspectives, enhancingapplicability and depth of understanding in optimizing police interactions with
older adults.
Practical implications –Practical implications include informing policy makers and law enforcement
agencies about effective strategies to enhance interactions with older adults, emphasizing
communication skills and de-escalation techniques. Training programs should integrate age-sensitive
approaches to improve officers’ awareness and response to older adults’ needs and vulnerabilities.
Implementing community engagement initiatives can foster trustand cooperation, contributing to safer
and more supportive environments for older adults in policing interactions. These efforts can ultimately
promoteenhanced well-being and reduced conflictsbetween law enforcement and olderadults.
Social implications –Social implications highlight the need for broader societal awareness and
education regarding the challenges faced by older adults in interactions with law enforcement.
(Informationabout the
authorscan be found at the
end of this article.)
Received 8 July 2024
Revised 17 October 2024
30 October 2024
7 November 2024
Accepted 18 November 2024
Funding source: This work was
supported by the New Horizons
for Seniors Program- CFP-NHP
25000/PNHA 25000-2022-190.
Declaration of interest: The
authors report there are no
competing interests to declare.
DOI 10.1108/JAP-07-2024-0036 VOL. 27 NO. 1 2025,pp. 15-39, ©Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 1466-8203 jTHE JOURNAL OF ADULT PROTECTION jPAGE 15
Addressing ageism and promoting respectful treatment can enhance community trust and reduce
misunderstandings.Improved interactions between older adults and law enforcementcan foster a more
inclusive and supportive society, ensuring that older adults feel valued and protected. This can
contributeto overall social cohesion and a more equitableexperience for older adults in theirinteractions
with law enforcementagencies.
Originality/value –The originality of this study lies in its focuson the intersection of age-related issues
and law enforcement interactions, a relatively underexplored area in both gerontology and criminal
justice research. By examining the perceptions and experiences of older adults and law enforcement
officers, it provides valuable insights into mitigating ageism and improving interactions. The study’s
findings contribute to enhancing understanding of how to promote respectful and effective
communication between these groups, thereby offering practical implications for policy and training
initiatives aimed at fostering better relationships and outcomes for older adults in law enforcement
encounters.
Keywords Geriatrics, Older adults, Police officers, Law enforcement,Training, Education
Paper type Literature review
Introduction
As populations age, police officers are increasingly being called to serve as first-
responders in incidents where aging-related health or social issues play a central role
(Bedard et al., 2022). Older adults experience substantial interactions with police or law
enforcement officials as both victims and perpetrators of crime and for a variety of
noncrime-related service demands (e.g. missing persons incidents)(Brown et al., 2014).
These interactions can encompass a wide spectrum of situations, such as addressing
issues unrelated to public safety, assisting victims of crime, engaging with witnesses and
even handling cases involving older adults as suspects (Beaulieu et al.,2015;Lachs et al.,
2004), highlighting noncrime-related service demands and emphasizing theneed for police
strategies that extend beyond solely addressing criminal victimization (Liederbach and
Stelle, 2010). Challenging scenarios that are commonly faced by police officers include
cases of elder abuse, interacting with older adults who have cognitive impairment with or
without behavioral disturbances and having to address other aging-related health and
social needs (Brown et al.,2014). Recognizing that older adults are a diverse group –
varying in age, socio-economic status, health conditions and living arrangements –police
responses must be tailored to accommodate this complexity (Kokoreliaset al.,2024). These
encounters often involve sensitive and complex situations,such as instances of elder abuse
(Wang et al., 2015), interactionswith older adults experiencing cognitive impairments, either
with or without accompanying behavioral disturbances (Liljegren et al.,2018) and the
multifaceted task of addressing diverse health and social needs associated with aging
(Brown et al., 2014). In these situations, police must often liaisebetween the criminal justice,
healthcare, social and communitysupport systems and services. Moreover, it is essential to
challenge the stereotype that older adults are solely vulnerable individuals, as this can
perpetuate ageist assumptions and overlook their autonomy and diverse experiences
(Kokorelias et al.,2023). By providing a nuanced understanding of the roles that police can
play and the specific training requirements for different scenarios, we can foster a more
effective and sensitiveapproach to policing older persons.
With an appropriate skillset and accessible supports, police officers may be well-positioned
to disrupt costly cycles of recurrent acute healthcare use, institutionalization and
incarceration for older adults with complex and often inter-related health and social needs
(Brown et al., 2014). By 2030, it’s estimated that 1 in 6 people will be over 65, and the
population aged 80 and above will double to 2.1 billion, according to the World Health
Organization (Organization,2015). Regarding victimization rates, global prevalence rates of
elder abuse are concerning (Yon et al.,2017). A meta-analysis revealed a significant
prevalence of elder abuse, though exact rates vary across regions and contexts (Ho et al.,
2017). Another review of 52 studies across 28 countries found that elder abuse affects
approximately 15.7% of older adults globally, highlighting significant variations in
PAGE 16 jTHE JOURNAL OF ADULT PROTECTION jVOL. 27 NO. 1 2025
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