RISE trial finds psychosocial benefits for older adults affected by elder abuse

A pragmatic randomized controlled trial evaluated the community-based RISE intervention in 114 older adults screened as at risk of or experiencing elder abuse and self-neglect. Compared with consultation and referral alone, RISE was associated with greater improvement in several psychosocial measures over six months, although problem concern did not differ between groups.

Pragmatic randomized trial included 114 older adults.
RISE improved six psychosocial measures relative to control.
Problem concern did not differ between groups.
Six-month follow-up included 79 participants.

Elder abuse and self-neglect are associated with adverse health and psychosocial outcomes, but evidence for effective responses is limited. In this pragmatic, parallel-group superiority trial, 114 older adults screened as at risk of or experiencing elder abuse and self-neglect were randomized after an initial consultation to receive either RISE plus consultation or consultation and referral provision alone. Outcomes were assessed by blinded evaluators at baseline, three months and six months using telephone surveys. The primary outcomes included life satisfaction, perceived stress, self-efficacy, social support and problem concern.

Compared with the control group, participants receiving RISE had significantly greater improvement over time in life satisfaction (p<0.001), perceived stress (p=0.001), general self-efficacy (p=0.023), social-interaction self-efficacy (p<0.001), emotional support (p=0.002) and informational support (p<0.001). Problem concern did not show a differential change (p=0.404). Adjusted program satisfaction at six months was 4.61 points higher with RISE (95% CI 3.25–5.97; p<0.001).

Follow-up assessments were completed by 93 participants at three months and 79 at six months. The findings support potential psychosocial benefits in this community-based setting, but attrition and the absence of reported effect sizes for the primary outcomes limit interpretation. The study does not establish effects on abuse or self-neglect occurrence or broader health outcomes.

In practice

For older adults identified as at risk of or experiencing elder abuse and self-neglect, this trial suggests that adding the community-based RISE intervention to consultation may improve life satisfaction, perceived stress, self-efficacy and social support over six months compared with consultation and referral alone. The findings are promising but do not demonstrate reduced abuse or self-neglect, and problem concern did not improve differentially. Follow-up fell from 114 participants at baseline to 79 at six months, which limits certainty and generalizability; the results alone do not establish a specific practice change.

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Source

Journal of the American Geriatrics Society: Effectiveness of the RISE Intervention for Elder Abuse and Self‐Neglect: A Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Trial ↗

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