Since 2016, The National Collaboratory to Address Elder Mistreatment (NCAEM) has designed and tested protocols for the identification of elder abuse in emergency departments (ED). These protocols have been successfully implemented in states like NY, NJ, and MA but have yet to be implemented in RI. I hope to procure actionable data that will enable the RI Coalition for Elder Justice to pilot these protocols in RI EDs by (1) administering staff surveys developed by the NCAEM to assess current ED practices and provider knowledge, (2) conducting focus groups with ED staff to understand provider preferences in implementing protocols, and (3) assessing/strengthening communication and referral systems between EDs, Adult Protective Services, and multidisciplinary teams.

I am a member of the Class of 2026, studying Gerontology and Cell and Molecular Biology. This summer, I will collaborate with the RI Coalition for Elder Justice on a project titled "Implementing Elder Abuse Screening Protocols in Rhode Island Emergency Departments." This project aims to procure actionable data that will enable the coalition to implement toolboxes developed by the National Collaboratory to Address Elder Mistreatment. These toolboxes will provide healthcare workers with the protocols necessary to screen, identify, and manage cases of elder abuse in emergency room settings.