Police gerontology services for the elderly: A policy guide

Police officer competence in handling Alzheimer’s cases: The roles of AD knowledge, beliefs, and exposure

“…Residents with AD in emergency situations are the most common scenarios that involve patrol officers. These situations include wandering, traffic violations, accidents, indecent exposure, shoplifting, and suicide (Bourns, 2000). Due to the neurological changes in the brain, individuals with AD may exhibit behavioral problems such as getting naked in public, wandering away from their home, ignoring traffic signs at an intersection, or becoming violent toward others (Bourns, 2000).…”

“…These situations include wandering, traffic violations, accidents, indecent exposure, shoplifting, and suicide (Bourns, 2000). Due to the neurological changes in the brain, individuals with AD may exhibit behavioral problems such as getting naked in public, wandering away from their home, ignoring traffic signs at an intersection, or becoming violent toward others (Bourns, 2000). Such behavioral problems have caused safety concerns for patients and other residents, thereby warranting the intervention of police officers.…”

“…When an individual with AD progresses to the advanced stage, 24 hour care is necessary, and caregivers (paid or unpaid) might not be able to endure the stress of caregiving, resulting in neglect or abuse of the AD patient (Beach et al., 2005; Cooper et al., 2009). Situations that involve abuse, if reported, require timely intervention by law enforcement officers, medical attention by paramedics, and a referral to local adult protective services that are often to the purview of social workers (Bourns, 2000). Little research has explored the possible approaches or strategies that first responders may use to improve their capacity to address the needs of AD patients.…”

“…Dorfman and Walker (2007), for instance, found that the methods used by law enforcement officers varied widely across the many legal jurisdictions found in the United States. Bourns (2000) described a training curriculum approved for police officers in Illinois and Colorado to respond to older adults. The curriculum contained some themes that apply to AD patients, such as techniques for confronting individuals with AD, investigation of elder abuse in community and nursing homes, and policy advocacy for more stringent penalties against elder abuse perpetrators.…”