The University of California at Irvine Center of Excellence on Elder Abuse and neglect has released an app that might get us thinking.

As described:

Based on input from multidisciplinary community partners, we’ve created these useful features for this mobile app:

Warning Signs of abuse, neglect and financial exploitation
What to look for in the home environment, caretaker behavior, elder/dependent adult behavior, medical markers
Elder and Dependent Adult Penal Code 368
Easy-to-reference summary of Penal Code 368
Other common crimes that can be used in conjunction with a PC 368 arrest
Quick tips on Memory Loss, People with Dementia as Witnesses, Caretaker Role, assessing common injuries like Bruises and Pressure Sores
Agency Contacts for cross-reporting and for providing assistance to the victim

This got me thinking about some tools that take fuller advantage of the sensors in mobile units.

• Taking a photo that can analyze for whether a bruise is inflicted with an instrument or body part
• Tool to gather the data for the reporting form – and send it electronically
• Geolink to nearest medical and law enforcement
• For victims — recording of attack triggered by sound patterns or movement patterns
• Dialing law enforcement, similarly triggered.

Building such apps requires collaboration between advocates, scientists, medical people and techies.