For five years, monthly meetings were conducted with pilot sites, as well as ECs, in order to obtain input on a regular basis. Meanwhile, independent research on eldercaring coordination took place through Virginia Tech University, led by Pamela Teaster, Ph.D., Director of the Center of Gerontology, and Megan Dolbin-MacNab, Director of the Doctoral Program of Marriage and Family Therapy. Analysis conducted was provided to the pilot sites and ECs to inform improvements to the eldercaring coordination process throughout its implementation.

Information used to monitor the development of eldercaring coordination included:

• Identification of risks and safety issues, including instances of reports of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation; 

• Reduction in hearings before the court in cases referred to eldercaring coordination; 

• Increased use of community resources (e.g. physicians, attorneys, guardians, elder mediators, health care, mental health and psychosocial professionals, aging life care professionals, financial experts, etc.) to assist the elder and family;

• Review of Eldercaring Coordination Surveys by Independent Research Team

• An Eldercaring Coordination Program design that can be easily replicated statewide, nationally and internationally by other circuits, districts and jurisdictions

• Eldercaring Coordinator Training progress

Indicators of Success have been identified by participants as:

• Elder well-being (most prominent)

• Reducing family conflict

• Avoiding/reducing litigation: fewer hearings; shorter hearings; more focused hearings

• Making decisions on care issues and matters unrelated to the law

• Reaching agreements related to the general welfare of the elder

The following risks have been identified through eldercaring coordination:

“Eldercaring coordination saved that man’s life!”

– Florida Judge