Dr. Wolf stressed the need for collaborative partnerships between researchers and service providers in order for any research project to be successful. Such partnerships can be difficult to forge and sustain, as evidenced by feedback obtained from a Centers for Disease Control-funded program that focused on research in prevention of violence against women. Service providers involved in this program reported that researchers were remote and arrogant, paid insufficient attention to the effect of the research on victims, and failed to solicit input from the practitioners. In order for any research to achieve its aims, there must be a mutually trusting relationship between the researchers and service providers, based upon communication and an acknowledgment of the fundamental differences between practitioners and researchers. The participants discussed several issues surrounding research on elder abuse and neglect as related to the victims.
Research involving human subjects is always a challenge for a number of reasons.
Many researchers are uncomfortable dealing with people's pain and suffering. The lack of access to victims was also cited. Many participants complained that the process was cumbersome and lengthy and, often, placed many restrictions on research, such as mandatory reporting of abuse. Others cited the difficulty in obtaining informed consent, particularly from potential subjects with dementia. To overcome these obstacles, there is a need for greater cross-disciplinary collaborations so that medical, scientific, and legal issues can be addressed at every stage of the process.