METHODS
We used stratified random-digit-dialing in an area probability sample derived from censusdefined size-of-place parameters (e.g., rural, urban), with the continental United States
as the sampling location. We designated the household member with the most recent
birthday as the respondent for each sampled household. We conducted interviews in the
participant’s preference of English or Spanish. To increase participant privacy and protection,
we asked respondents whether they were in a place where they could talk privately, and we
worded questions on sensitive topics to elicit a yes or no response, rather than a description
of the mistreatment event. This method yielded a representative sample (by age and gender) of
5777 adults aged 60 years or older. Interviewers determined whether the designated
participant clearly possessed the cognitive capacity to consent to participation and surveyed
only persons who met this standard; 105 persons were not interviewed after this screening.