Elder Abuse: Selected Papers from the Prague World Congress on Family Violence Editors: E. PODNIEKS, J.I. KOSBERG AND A. LOWENSTEIN Binghampton NY: Howarth Press, 2005, U.S. $29.95. Paperback, pp. 214. ISBN 0 7890 2824 9 P/B

Abstract

Reviews the book, Elder Abuse: Selected Papers from the Prague World Congress on Family Violence edited by E. Podnieks, J.I. Kosberg, and A. Lowenstein (2005). The 'Prague Papers', as this collection has become known, consists of ten contributions on various aspects of elder abuse by international experts. The papers cover topics from the prevention of financial abuse and recognition of elder abuse in faith communities, international variations in the definition and reliable detection of elder abuse, to the vulnerability of older women. The reader will find plenty of new developments presented here, although the studies reported are relatively modest and have not had access to larger-scale research resources. Papers of special interest call for greater awareness of abuse of grandparents by grandchildren. However, given examples of threats, defiance and sometimes serious acts of violence, it leaves little doubt that, as vulnerable children need protection, so do vulnerable adults need the same opportunities for frank disclosure, support and protection from harm. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)