Midterm evaluation of Eastern Community Legal Centre’s ROSE and ELSA service trials
This report presents the findings from the midterm evaluation of Eastern Community Legal Centre’s (ECLC) delivery of the National Elder Abuse Service Trials conducted by RMIT University’s Social and Global Studies Centre (SGSC) in partnership with the National Ageing Research Institute (NARI). ECLC’s delivery of the National Elder Abuse Service Trials constitutes two service trials: Engaging and Living Safely and Autonomously (ELSA), a health justice partnership with Eastern Health, and Rights of Seniors in the East (ROSE), a Specialist Elder Abuse Unit in partnership with Oonah Belonging Place (formerly Healesville Indigenous Community Services Association).
The overarching aim of this evaluation is to detail the extent to which ROSE and ELSA are providing effective, efficient, sustainable services. The evaluation is in three parts; a baseline survey, a midterm review and a final evaluation. This report presents the findings from the midterm review.
This evaluation employed a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative thematic analysis of primary and secondary data with descriptive statistical data to address the evaluation questions. The evaluation drew on all available data, including ECLC documentation and quantitative data. The evaluation team conducted interviews and small focus groups with professional stakeholders, including ECLC staff, and with people who had used ROSE and ELSA.
Preliminary findings
The findings from the midterm evaluation indicate that both the ROSE and ELSA service trials have been implemented successfully, are generally reaching the desired cohort and are successful at achieving what outcomes are possible in the complex context of elder abuse. Victoria’s COVID-19 restrictions during 2020 and 2021 have made service provision more challenging for ROSE and ELSA and their respective partner organisations. The restrictions limited ELSA’s co-location at Eastern Health, a core element of the program design, and for the ROSE program limited partnership development with Oonah Belonging Place.
Additional challenges include the hesitancy of older people to use the options available to address abuse. This was due to a complex suite of factors, primarily relating to a desire to maintain relationships with their children who perpetrated the abuse, concerns regarding repercussions, concerns for the welfare of the abuser, and a lack of availability of alternative options such as mediation.
Despite these barriers the integrated practice model appears to be effective and efficient, with clients overwhelmingly reporting their needs had been met even if the abuse was not entirely resolved. Clients consistently reported improvements in empowerment, choice and control in making their own decisions. This finding is consistent across all available data.
The model used by both services appears to be appropriate. The integrated practice approach combines secondary consultation and community education to link the broader service system together. The evaluation also identified some areas, such as systemic advocacy, to be considered for further development.
