UCSF

Objectives

To develop, implement, and evaluate a training program in aging-related health for police officers.

Design

Cross-sectional.

Setting

Crisis intervention training program for police officers in San Francisco.

Participants

Police officers attending one of five 2-hour trainings (N = 143).

Intervention

A lecture on aging-related health conditions pertinent to police work followed by three experiential trainings on how it feels to be "old."

Measurements

Participants evaluated the quality of the training and the likelihood that they would apply new knowledge to their work and rated their knowledge using a retrospective pre-post evaluation. In open-ended responses, participants reported work-related changes they anticipated making in response to the training.

Results

All 143 participants completed the evaluation. Eighty-four percent reported interacting with older adults at least monthly; 45% reported daily interactions. Participants rated the training quality at 4.6/5 and the likelihood they would apply new knowledge to their work at 4.4/5. Retrospective pre-post knowledge scores increased for all domains, including how to identify aging-related health conditions that can affect safety during police interactions (2.9/5 to 4.2/5; P < .001). In open-ended responses, participants anticipated having more empathy for and awareness of aging-related conditions and greater ability to provide older adults with appropriate community referrals.

Conclusion

A brief training in aging-related health significantly increased police officers' self-reported knowledge and skills. Clinicians have an important opportunity to help enhance safe and effective community policing for older adults.