Qualitative case study reveals relational support mechanisms preventing elder mistreatment among caregivers, indicating interventions can protect older adults without reducing measured stress.
The Comprehensive Older Adult and Caregiver Help (COACH) intervention, evaluated in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) by [Author(s)] et al. (2024), achieved an unexpected outcome: during the three months after the intervention, no caregivers in the treatment group self-reported elder mistreatment (EM), compared to 23.1% in controls, despite no significant reduction in measured caregiver risk factors such as burden, depression, or anxiety. To explore factors that may have contributed to this outcome, we conducted a case study with three COACH care coaches and their supervisor, supplemented by 100 post-visit notes and six pages of supervisory meeting notes. Thematic analysis identified three elements perceived as central to COACH's impact: tailored, person-centered support; care navigation and resource provision; and culturally responsive, iterative caregiver education. Findings suggest that relational support may mitigate EM risk even when measured risk factors do not change, underscoring the need for theory-informed frameworks to guide caregiver-focused prevention strategies.
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Marnfeldt et al. (2026) studied this question.
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