ELDER FATALITY REVIEW Illinois Department on Aging 2012

ELDER FATALITY REVIEW Illinois Department on Aging 2012 Elder Rights Conference 7/13/12

Elder Fatality Review Who? When? What? Why? Where? How?

Regional interagency elderly fatality review teams May establish regional interagency EFRTs by: The Illinois Department on Aging Other State or County Agency with approval of the Department on Aging

WHO? Team members: Representative from the IL. Dept. on Aging Coroners and / or Medical Examiners State’s Attorneys Local Police Departments Forensic Units Providers of services for persons 60 years of age or older in domestic living situations

Who? (cont. ) Other individuals and/or agencies deemed appropriate by the team

What? Assist local agencies in identifying and reviewing suspicious deaths of elderly victims

What? (cont. ) Alleged, suspected, or substantiated abuse or neglect in domestic living situations

What? (cont. ) Facilitate communication between officials responsible for autopsies and inquests and persons involved in reporting or investigating alleged or suspected cases of abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation of persons 60 years of age or older

What? 60 years of age or older Domestic living situations Blunt force trauma Undetermined manner or suspicious cause of death

What? Requested by attending physician Referral by a health care provider

What? Open or closed case involving alleged or suspected abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation: Senior protective services agency Law Enforcement Agency State’s Attorney Other cases 60+/domestic living

Where? (cont. ) Deaths should be reviewed in the region or county where the death occurred. Regional Department on Aging Office Coroner or Medical Examiner’s Office State’s Attorney’s Office Law Enforcement Agency

When? Teams shall meet a minimum of 6 times / year Meeting dates and times established by the team

Why? Review cases of alleged, suspected, or substantiated abuse or neglect Make recommendations concerning investigation or prosecution with majority vote of team members

Why? Review team data and recommendations utilized by the Department on Aging: Annual report Develop education, prevention, prosecution, other strategies designed to improve the coordination of services for persons 60+ and their families. Use aggregate data collected from review teams to create a database of at-risk individuals.

How? Reviews conducted similar to Illinois Child Death Review Teams.

How? Establish a volunteer review team in your region or county in coordination with regional Department on Aging Office Fill team member positions

How? Determine meeting location, dates, and times Memorandum of Cooperation between coroner or medical examiner and local provider agency f 0 r the Elder Abuse and Neglect Program

Duane Northrup Champaign County Coroner 202 S. Art Bartell Rd. Urbana, IL 61802 Ph. 217 -384 -3888 Fax 217 -384 -1290 dnorthrup@co. champaign. il. us