The Elder Assessment Instrument, or EAI, is a clinical tool that was first developed in 1984 to help doctors in various fields identify cases of elder abuse. Unlike a yes/no questionnaire, the EAI uses over three dozen key indicators of abuse and neglect to determine if there is no evidence, possible evidence, strong evidence, or definite evidence of elder abuse.
Explore the assessment below and learn what our experienced nursing home abuse and neglect lawyers can do for you.
General Assessment
This section helps the clinician performing the assessment to rate the patient’s overall appearance and first impressions.
| General Assessment | Very Good | Good | Poor | Very Poor | Unable to Assess |
| Clothing | |||||
| Hygiene | |||||
| Nutrition | |||||
| Skin integrity | |||||
| Other (Specify):
|
Possible Abuse Indicators
This section allows the assessing clinician to rate the likelihood that evidence is present for one or more common signs of physical or sexual elder abuse.
| Possible Abuse Indicators | No Evidence | Possible Evidence | Probable Evidence | Definite Evidence | Unable to Assess |
| Bruising | |||||
| Lacerations | |||||
| Fractures | |||||
| Bruises or fractures in different stages of healing | |||||
| Evidence of sexual abuse | |||||
| Statement made by the elder about an incident of abuse | |||||
| Other (Specify):
|
Possible Neglect Indicators
This section lists 12 of the most common signs that a patient is being neglected or poorly cared for in a nursing home or other advanced care setting. Most of these, like bed sores and malnutrition, are considered “never events” that should occur 0% of the time.
| Possible Neglect Indicators | No Evidence | Possible Evidence | Probable Evidence | Definite Evidence | Unable to Assess |
| Contractures (tight muscles that cause limb deformities) | |||||
| Decubiti (bed sores) | |||||
| Dehydration | |||||
| Diarrhea | |||||
| Depression | |||||
| Bowel impaction | |||||
| Malnutrition | |||||
| Urine burns | |||||
| Poor hygiene | |||||
| Failure to treat obvious signs of disease | |||||
| Frequent hospital admissions, likely due to probable lack of health care surveillance | |||||
| Statement made by the elder about an incident of neglect | |||||
| Other (Specify):
|
Possible Exploitation Indicators
Clinicians can determine the likelihood that there is evidence of financial abuse or manipulation by using the following section.
| Possible Exploitation Indicators | No Evidence | Possible Evidence | Probable Evidence | Definite Evidence | Unable to Assess |
| Misuse of money | |||||
| Evidence of financial Exploitation | |||||
| Reports of demand for goods in exchange for services | |||||
| Inability to account for money or personal belongings | |||||
| Statement made by the elder about an incident of exploitation | |||||
| Other (Specify):
|
Possible Abandonment Indicators
This section gives clinicians tools to determine how likely it is that an elder has been abandoned by their caretaker or that their caretaker is leaving them alone for extended periods without arranging for someone else to take over.
| Possible Abandonment Indicators | No Evidence | Possible Evidence | Probable Evidence | Definite Evidence | Unable to Assess |
| Evidence that a caretaker has withdrawn care without making alternative arrangements | |||||
| Evidence that the elder has been left alone in an unsafe environment for long periods of time without adequate supervision | |||||
| Statement made by the elder about an incident of abandonment | |||||
| Other (Specify):
|
Summary
Once the above sections are complete, clinicians can use them to visualize the likelihood of each major category of abuse and neglect below.
| Summary | No Evidence | Possible Evidence | Probable Evidence | Definite Evidence | Unable to Assess |
| Evidence of abuse | |||||
| Evidence of neglect | |||||
| Evidence of exploitation | |||||
| Evidence of abandonment | |||||
| Other (Specify):
|
How to Help an Elderly Loved One You Suspect Is Being Abused
If you suspect that an elderly family member or someone else you know is being abused or neglected, Mazow | McCullough, PC is here for you. We can provide you with the zealous advocacy your loved one deserves.
Contact our Salem, MA law firm to schedule your free consultation at (978) 744-8000 or (855) 693-9084. We can help you gather evidence and hold negligent our abusive medical professionals responsible for causing your loved one harm.
Chart adapted from: Fulmer, T., & Cahill, V.M. (1984). Assessing elder abuse: A study.
Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 10(12), 16-20 and Fulmer, T. (2003). Elder abuse and
neglect assessment. Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 29(6), 4-5.
Robert E. Mazow, Partner
Rob Mazow is a founding partner of Mazow | McCullough, PC, where he represents injured victims and their families. As a former Assistant District Attorney in Essex County, Rob has tried over 100 jury cases. Unhappy with representing “big business,” he left a large Boston firm in 2003 and dedicated his new practice to holding wrongdoers accountable. Rob has recovered millions for families and has led impactful class actions protecting Massachusetts consumers. He tells his clients, “I can’t guarantee you a result. But what I can promise is that nobody will fight harder to get you the best result possible.”
