Interventions for Elder Abuse and Neglect With Frail Elders in Japan

Abstract

Although caregiver burden is not a direct cause of elder abuse and neglect, research in Japan indicates that stressful caregiving relationships can lead to mistreatment and abuse of frail elders by their families. At the present time, there is no formal notification system for elder abuse in Japan. The purpose of this paper is to discuss crisis intervention strategies that are implemented by social workers at Home Care Support Centers when encountering cases of mistreatment, neglect, and abuse in family caregiving situations. We present the demographic background of elders and their families and review findings of elder abuse studies conducted by Japanese researchers. We then offer three cases to illustrate intervention strategies employed by social workers who work at Home Care Support Centers in an agricultural area in northeastern Japan, including (1) ongoing monitoring, (2) arrangements for formal services, and (3) institutionalization. Cultural issues unique to family caregiving situations are also discussed. [Brief Treatment and Crisis Intervention 5:203‐211 (2005)]