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Elder Abuse Enhanced Multidisciplinary Teams (E-MDTs) have emerged as a crucial force in the fight against elder abuse. By facilitating collaboration, expertise sharing, and comprehensive approaches, E-MDTs offer an effective response to the complex and multifaceted issue of elder abuse. Some of the key developments in the landscape have included: 

  • Enhancements to membership
    Since the early iterations of multidisciplinary responses to complex elder abuse cases, many teams have added more specialized disciplines to deepen the understanding of cases; and strengthen interventions. Some of the more significant additions to the membership have been geriatric psychiatrists, forensic accountants, civil attorneys, victim advocates, and ethicists. The addition of these fields have allowed for deeper understanding of the circumstances of each case; more specialized assessments and more tailored interventions that address the unique needs of each older adult. Access our resources on the roles of specialists to learn more. 
  • Navigating confidentiality
    E-MDTs have had to navigate legal and ethical considerations when sharing sensitive information and personal data across agencies. Striking the right balance between ensuring privacy and safeguarding the rights of older adults while facilitating effective information exchange is a critical aspect of E-MDT development. As a community, E-MDTs have made great strides in establishing and sharing norms for information sharing and data protection. Access our resources on confidentiality to learn more. 
  • Leveraging community outreach for stronger prevention
    A significant trend within E-MDTs is a shift towards prevention-focused approaches. Recognizing the importance of proactive measures, E-MDTs are increasingly working on educating communities, professionals, and older adults themselves about the signs of abuse, risk factors, and prevention strategies. By fostering awareness and providing targeted interventions such as financial literacy programs, caregiver support, and community outreach initiatives, E-MDTs aim to prevent elder abuse before it occurs, reducing the overall incidence of mistreatment.
  • Integration of Technology
    The COVID-19 pandemic presented new challenges for technology integration that has revolutionized the way E-MDTs operate. Today, E-MDTs are adopting digital platforms to host E-MDT meetings which are fully remote, or run in a hybrid format. While losing some of the benefits of in-person contact, more teams are reporting that it has facilitated the attendance of many disciplines, whose schedules or locations did not facilitate in-person attendance. 

    This move to online meetings has also necessitated an enhanced set of facilitation skills on the part of coordinators. Access our resources on technology and hybrid meeting facilitation to learn more. 
  • Victim-Centered Approaches
    E-MDTs play a vital role in ensuring that victims of elder abuse receive the support they require. Where E-MDTs were first established to promote more holistic intervention for elder abuse cases and to break down agency silos, there has been a stronger push to center victims' preferences and needs in decisions that impact them. This involves engaging victims in decision-making, providing trauma-informed support, and offering tailored services that address their unique circumstances. Sector-wide, this has translated to more profound work and exploration of issues around restorative practice, person-centeredness, equity practice, and trauma-informed practices. 

E-MDTs are moving beyond reactive approaches to focus on prevention, leveraging technology to improve efficiency and response, and placing a greater emphasis on empowering and advocating for elder abuse victims. As these trends continue to shape the field, E-MDTs are becoming more effective in safeguarding the rights and well-being of older adults, offering hope for a future where elder abuse is mitigated and prevented on a larger scale.