Prevalence Of Elder Abuse Research Articles

The Complex Relationship Between Elder Abuse and Suicide – a Global Narrative Review

ABSTRACT The prevalence of elder abuse and suicide in the geriatric population has increased worldwide, making it a major global public health issue. This narrative review aims to map the existing literature on psychosocial correlates of elder abuse and suicide. It attempts to develop a conceptual framework for understanding the relationship between psychosocial correlates of elder abuse and suicide, to understand gaps, and to shed light on the areas for future research. Findings of this review emphasize the need to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions that address the complex interplay of factors contributing to both elder abuse and suicidal behavior.

Causal effects of elder abuse on depression: a longitudinal analysis in Vietnam.

This study investigated the causal link between elder abuse and depressive symptoms among Vietnamese older adults, using the recent longitudinal surveys in 2019 and 2022. Propensity score matching (PSM) was employed, controlling for baseline outcomes and characteristics, to address the potential endogeneity between elder abuse and depressive symptoms. Our PSM estimation showed that experiencing elder abuse significantly increased depressive symptom index by 0.331 points. This result remained robust across multiple sensitivity checks. Heterogeneity analysis further showed that the impact of elder abuse was more pronounced among older women and individuals with lower education, highlighting the intersection of gender-based violence and socioeconomic disparities in the experience of elder abuse. Our findings underscore the harmful effect of elder abuse and the importance of targeted interventions to prevent elder abuse and mitigate its detrimental impact on depression.

Prevalence of family-based elder abuse and its associated factors in Gandaki Province of Western Nepal: A cross-sectional study.

Elder abuse is a rarely discussed public health and human rights issue in Nepal, largely due to traditional values emphasizing reverence for parents. These cultural norms can discourage recognition and reporting, especially within families. Consequently, nationwide or large-scale data on this issue is lacking. This study aims to estimate the prevalence and explore the factors associated with family-based elder abuse in Gandaki province, western Nepal. A cross-sectional design was conducted interviewing 612 participants (≥ 60 years) in household settings. The study areas, representing mountain, hill and tarai regions of Gandaki province, were randomly selected using multistage stratified sampling process. The dependent variable was measured using 17-item elder abuse scale. Multivariable logistic regression explored the factors associated with elder abuse. More than half of the participants were from Nawalpur (57.2%), urban residents (68.1%), female (57.2%), without education (79.8%), and lived in multigenerational households (73.0%). The overall prevalence of elder abuse was reported at 56.4%, with caregiver neglect (50.8%) being the most prevalent sub-type. The prevalence was higher among females (66.6%) than males (42.8%). In adjusted multivariable logistic regression, those who were female (AOR = 2.56, 95%CI: 1.64-4.01), older than 70 years (AOR = 1.53, 95%CI: 1.03-2.29), reluctant to disclose health issues to family members (AOR = 2.13, 95%CI: 1.36-3.34), believed in traditional healers (AOR = 1.89, 95%CI: 1.28-2.77) and lived in nuclear households (AOR = 1.85, 95%CI: 1.19-2.89) had higher odds of elder abuse. Those living in rural areas (AOR = 0.39, 95%CI: 0.25-0.61), having formal education (AOR = 0.31, 95%CI: 0.10-0.95), and having good self-reported health (AOR = 0.23, 95%CI: 0.12-0.46) were associated with lower odds of elder abuse. The study highlights a high prevalence of elder abuse, particularly caregiver neglect, with a disproportionate impact on women. Policy recommendations include raising awareness, strengthening legal protections, and improving caregiver training to meet these challenges effectively.

Prevalence of elder abuse and its correlated factors in Iranian community-dowelling older adults: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundThe global elderly population is rapidly increasing, with projections estimating that the number of older adults will reach 2.1 billion. Elder abuse, a significant public health issue, leads to serious psychological, physical, and social consequences. Therefore, this study aims to assess the prevalence of elder abuse in Qazvin, Iran, while exploring correlated factors that may act as potential risks or protective factors, especially within the context of post-pandemic COVID-19 conditions.MethodsThis cross-sectional study, conducted from May to October 2024, included 540 older adults aged 60 and above residing in Qazvin city, Iran. Participants were selected using a multi-stage cluster sampling method. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a demographic checklist, the General Health Questionnaire, the Advanced Activities of Daily Living Scale, the Mini-Cog Screening Tool, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and the Short Version of the Domestic Elder Abuse Assessment Questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using one-sided and two- sided chi-square tests, as well as a logistic regression model.ResultsA total of 540 older adults participated in the study, with a mean age of 72.08 ± 8.08 years. The majority of the participants were married (n = 390, 72.2%) and had an average economic status (n = 348,64.4%). Among the participants, 71.1% (n = 384) reported experiencing at least one form of elder abuse within the past year, with psychological abuse (n = 274, 50.7%) and care neglect (n = 269,49.8%) being the most prevalent forms. The results indicated that elder abuse was significantly associated with good and excellent economic status (OR = 0.335, 95% CI: 0.150–0.749), being homemaker (OR = 2.789, 95% CI: 1.252–6.215), and having better mental health (OR = 0.931,95% CI: 0.885–0.980).ConclusionsThis study found a high prevalence of elder abuse in Qazvin city, with economic status, employment status, and mental health identified as key predictors. Based on these findings, further in-depth investigations are needed to explore the underlying causes of elder abuse. Additionally, efforts to clarify statistics and raise community awareness about the dimensions and reporting mechanisms of elder abuse are essential. The development of integrated support services to promote the physical and mental health of older adults and reduce their dependency is strongly recommended.

Certified nursing assistants’ perceptions of and suggestions to prevent elder abuse in residential aged care facilities: a qualitative study in Hunan Province, China

BackgroundStaff-to-resident abuse in institutional settings demands political attention and evidence-based interventions. Certified nursing assistants (CNAs) views and suggestions on preventing elder abuse can offer practical and policy-relevant insights. This study explores CNAs’ perceptions and strategies to address elder abuse in institutional care.MethodsSixteen CNAs from residential aged care facilities (RACFs) in Hunan Province, China, were purposively sampled. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted, and transcripts were analysed using content analysis.ResultsCNAs demonstrated a surface-level understanding of elder abuse, including its types, causes, and interventions. However, they provided detailed suggestions through an ecological-systems lens. At the microsystem level, strengthening staff professionalism and empathy was noted as critical, while the mesosystem involved enhancing institutional management. At the macrosystem level, suggested strategies included boosting social support, such as developing the senior care sector, increasing senior benefits, and strengthening legal safeguards.ConclusionThis study highlights CNAs’ limited understanding of elder abuse and presents actionable recommendations for policy and practice. The gap between their perceptions and the ability to ensure abuse-free care underlines the need for evidence-based training and standardised reporting systems. Strengthening staffing quality, institutional leadership, and community support within an ecological-systems framework is essential to reduce elder abuse and promote safe, respectful care environments for older adults.

국제 비교를 통한 노인학대 개념 및 법규 개선방안 연구

As elder abuse was recognized as a serious social problem, laws for the protection of human rights and prevention of abuse for the elderly were established following the revision of the Elderly Welfare Act in 2004, and there was a quantitative expansion of elder abuse prevention and protection programs. This study aims to compare and analyze the concept and age standard of elder abuse, the international standards for elder abuse behaviors and types, the Elderly Welfare Act in Korea, and local government ordinances. Additionally, it seeks to propose measures to redefine the concept of elder abuse in a way that suits the situation in Korea and to improve relevant laws and regulations. The main findings of the study are that the Elderly Welfare Act is inconsistent in defining elder abusers and age standards, which may lead to legal confusion. The definition of elder abusers is unclear, and the subject is divided into 'anyone' and 'guardians,' lacking consistency. A clear definition of emotional abuse, economic exploitation, and neglect in the context of elder abuse is needed. Additionally, the analysis of ordinances related to elder abuse reveals that local governments have different age standards and definitions, which may result in regional differences in human rights protections. Additionally, Senior Protection Agencies that investigate elder abuse have limited investigative authority and need to improve the system to legally strengthen identity protection. As implications from the analysis of overseas cases, it is necessary to consider a comprehensive approach to elder abuse as a human rights violation, as seen in the UK case, and to adopt the concept of 'vulnerable adults' instead of using an age-based standard for the elderly. Additionally, it is important to explore ways to include social discrimination in the concept of elder abuse. Finally, in the cases of the United States and Japan, support for both the elderly and abusers should be strengthened in super-aged societies by implementing aggravated penalties for elder abuse cases, enacting special laws for the prevention of elder abuse.

The Development of Construct Validation of Perception of Elder Abuse Questionnaire

The study was on the development of construct validation of the Perception of Elder Abuse Questionnaire. Three hundred [300] participants [220) women and 80 men with Mean age of 29.09 years and SD age of 9.78 were involved]. The prevalence and nature of this growing problem of abuse of the elderly has not been adequately addressed especially in Nigeria because it is not recognized as a serious matter. This growing problem has generally remained hidden from public view. The victims of abuse and others are reluctant to talk about it. This research aims to find out what people’s perception of elder abuse is and also to identify factors of abuse that are common in the southeastern part of Nigeria and suggest ways in which various sectors of the society might be mobilized in the prevention of elder abuse. The method used in the construct validation of this study includes the use of experts’ opinion in the content validation exercise, and the exploratory factor analysis. The analysis extracted two components from the 35 items which loaded significantly across the components at a coefficient greater than 0.35 with a reliability coefficient of Cronbach alpha. 0.8401 The components were neglect and psychological abuse. The result of the correlations and pilot study showed a reduction of the items to 29 and showed significant concurrent validity of the elder abuse scale with self-rating depression scale =0.95 at 0. 001. Similarly divergent validation was seen between the elder abuse scale and life satisfaction = -0.30, though not significant at the .005 level of testing. The discussion of the result was done in line with the dominant factors in the study and the need to improve assessments of elderly abuse in Nigeria.

TRENDS IN NATIONWIDE RESEARCH OUTCOMES ON ELDER ABUSE AND POLICY DEVELOPMENT TO PREVENT ELDER ABUSE IN JAPAN

Abstract After a brief introduction on history of activities of Japan Academy for the Prevention of Elder Abuse for the past 20 years, this study presents trends in number of elder abuse cases that were reported and substantiated as “elder abuse”, and trends in reporters and types of abuse in both institutional and domestic settings by using the nationwide data collected by the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare each year since the Act on the Prevention of Elder Abuse was enacted in 2006. The number of elder abuse cases in 2022 increased 5.3% compared to that in 2021 in domestic settings, while about 17% of increase for institutional settings. And the data in 2022 showed only 7.4% of the municipalities had implemented “leadership trainings” to promote actions and measures to prevent elder abuse in institutions and agencies that provide nursing care services; accordingly, it is not surprising, without leaders, the number of elder abuse cases reported and substantiated as elder abuse increased. Moreover, although there was no amendment of the Act on the Prevention of Elder Abuse, we discuss the most recent policy amendment on “Responses to Elder Abuse and Support for Caregivers in Municipalities and Prefectures”, so-called National Manual, which was enacted in April 2023 for the first time in 5 years. This policy change required a collaboration between prefectures and municipalities to develop infrastructure to prevent elder abuse. Finally, we make recommendations for solving issues identified during the past 20 years.

POLICY SERIES: TRENDS IN ELDER ABUSE AND INITIATIVES TO PREVENT ELDER ABUSE IN JAPAN DURING THE PAST 20 YEARS

Abstract This symposium begins by briefly introducing activities of Japan Academy for the Prevention of Elder Abuse, cerebrating 20 years, and features the Japanese Act on the Prevention of Elder Abuse. First, using data collected by the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare (MHLW), research analyses present trends in elder abuse case reports substantiated as “elder abuse”, trends in reporters in both institutional and domestic settings, and introduce recent amendments of operational standards made by ministerial ordinance. Second, using data (N=171) on elder abuse from Matsudo-City collected in 2019, analysis examines relationships between trends in the increasing number of elder abuse reports made by the police (about 43% of all cases) and trends in the number of cases regally considered to be “elder abuse” (only 17.8% of those reported to the police were legally considered to be “elder abuse”). It examines possible reasons and propose necessary policy changes in definitions of elder abuse. Third, using longitudinal data collected by Matsudo-city and by the MHLW from 2006 through 2022, this analysis examines the impacts of COVID-19 on the occurrence of elder abuse. Analyses revealed that neither data set showed significant increase in frequencies of occurrence of elder abuse due to COVID-19. Rather, it showed a decrease for the MHLW data. This study examines possible reasons and make recommendations to further decrease frequencies of occurrence of elder abuse cases. Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of Older Persons Interest Group Sponsored Symposium

REALITIES AND CHALLENGES OF ELDER ABUSE REPORTED TO THE POLICE

Abstract Nationwide, the number of elder abuse reports made to the police has increased. However, it was unclear if these reports resulted in an increase in cases substantiated as actual “elder abuse” by the police? This study used data from fiscal year 2019 in Matsudo City, analyzing a total of 171 elder abuse cases for this study. Among these, 73 cases were reported by the police, accounting for 42.7% of the total cases, and the perpetrators lived with the victims, indicating children were the most common perpetrators of 35 cases (47.9%), followed by spouse of 31 cases (42.5%), and others of 7 cases (9.6%). Out of the police-reported 73 cases, 60 cases (82.2%) were not substantiated as elder abuse under the Act on Prevention of Elder Abuse, and only 13 cases (17.8%) were substantiated as elder abuse. This outcome led us to the conclusion that the increase in police reports does not necessarily indicate an increase in the cases substantiated as “elder abuse,” and highlighted the limited scope of definitions of Elder Abuse in the Act. For example, despite cohabitation, the elder abuse cases where even actual elder violence occurs and requires hospitalization, are not considered as “elder abuse” if there is no caregiving relationship and many of such elder violence cases become to be called “situation-based violence”. It is strongly suggested that the definition of elder abuse of cohabitants with no caregiver relationships should be also included as “elder abuse” in accordance with WHO guidelines.

THE INFLUENCE OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON DOMESTIC ELDER ABUSE IN JAPAN

Abstract We are very interested in the influence of COVID-19 pandemic on elder abuse, especially its effects on the incidence. We investigated its incidence per population of validated domestic elder abuse cases in Matsudo City, Chiba, Japan, and in all over Japan. The Act of the Prevention of Elder Abuse, Support for Caregivers of Elderly Persons and Other Related Matters was enforced in 2004. We have the statistics of numbers of elder abuse cases validated according to the definition of elder abuse described in the act of each annual year in Matsudo City and Japan from 2004 to 2022. The numbers of validated domestic elder abuse cases per 100,000 people between annual 2004 and 2019 were 81.8 in Matsudo City and 49.8 in Japan. The numbers per 100,000 people between annual 2020 and 2022 were in 84.1 in Matsudo City and 46.4 in Japan. Therefore, the number of domestic elder abuse cases may be slightly increased under the COVID-19 pandemic in Matsudo City, on the contrary, it may be slightly decreased in Japan. There are many reports that the COVID-19 pandemic had negative effects on dynamics of family members and increased domestic abuses, however, we have often experienced to see positive effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on family members in home-care settings. I would like to discuss about the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the number of domestic elder abuse cases in Matsudo City and in Japan, and its positive and negative effects on family dynamics at home.

USE OF MOTIVATIONAL INTERVIEWING TO INTERVENE ELDER ABUSE: A RANDOMIZED CONTROL TRIAL

Abstract Elder abuse causes serious harm to individuals, families, and society. There is an urgent need to develop and test appropriate interventions to tackle it. This study tested the effectiveness of a motivational interviewing (MI)-based intervention in reducing elder abuse severity and promoting positive changes among community dwelling older Chinese in Hong Kong. The intervention involved a 90-minute individual engagement session and three 30-minute booster sessions delivered by trained MI facilitators. Personal goals for improvement of known risk factors such as poor physical and psychological health, lack of social support were set out followed by the application of MI processes. Pre- and post-test comparison of 33 intervention cases and 28 control cases are presented here. Analysis of pre-treatment differences found significant difference between the two groups in their monthly income, number of offspring and co-residing persons, physical frailty, general self-efficacy and abuse severity. Difference in differences technique was applied to mitigate the effects of extraneous factors and selection bias. Results show that intervention group performed significantly better than the control group upon completing the intervention program. Significant between group differences were found in terms of changes in psychological distress (GHQ, z=-3.043, p< 0.05), general self-efficacy (GSES, z=-4.988, p< 0.05), social support (MSPSS, z=-3.080, p< 0.05), abuse severity (CTS2, z=-2.593, p< 0.05), and perceived ability to change (z=-3.749, p< 0.05). MI has demonstrated good potential for elder abuse intervention. Further study should be conducted to identify key elements in MI leading to positive changes and refine the model for elder abuse prevention and intervention.

GENDER DIFFERENCES ON THE EFFECT OF RECIPROCITY ON NEGLECT AND ABUSE BY DEMENTIA CAREGIVERS

Abstract Reciprocity, a balanced exchange in interactions, is a crucial element of most social exchanges and impacts caregiving outcomes. This paper aims to investigate whether reciprocity plays a protective role against elder abuse and neglect and to explore potential gender variations associated with this relationship. A sample of 453 family caregivers reported daily perceptions of reciprocity in a micro-longitudinal study over 21 days. Perceived reciprocity was measured by the participant’s level of satisfaction with the amount of affection/appreciation shown by their relative with dementia in the previous 24 hours. Generalized linear mixed models examined the effect of perceived reciprocity on the odds of the caregiver engaging in psychologically aggressive, physically aggressive, and neglectful behaviors that day. Perceived reciprocity was associated with lowered daily odds of neglect (OR= 0.76 p= 0.006) and psychological abuse (OR = 0.6 p< 0.001). We calculated an interaction term of the effects of gender and perceived reciprocity on abuse/neglect to assess gender differences. Increased reciprocity reduced the odds of neglect for both males and females, but the reduction in odds was greater for males (p=0.041). Results suggest that receiving attention and affection for caregiving may act as a protective factor, particularly for male caregivers. While female caregivers might face socially constructed role expectations, males, often taking on caregiving out of obligation, may benefit from reciprocal interactions regarding reduced likelihood of neglecting the care recipient. These insights contribute to a nuanced understanding of gender dynamics in caregiving and can inform interventions to prevent elder abuse and neglect.

ELDER ABUSE IN OLDER ADULTS WITH DEMENTIA: PROTECTIVE FACTORS AND ADVERSE EFFECTS

Abstract With the rapid increase in the aging population, more attention has been paid to studying older adults with dementia. Despite the fact that older adults with dementia are more likely to be abused compared to their cognitively intact counterparts, little attention has been paid to abuse within this population. It is important to recognize the unique characteristics and vulnerabilities of this specific group. This systematic review, conducted using the PRISMA model, aims to critically examine, evaluate, and synthesize literature on protective factors and adverse effects of elder abuse among individuals with dementia. A search was undertaken using the Ageline, Medline, CINAHL, and PsycINFO databases for peer-reviewed articles published in English up to June 2023. A total of 291 articles were identified by the systematic search, and eight articles were included in the review. The results showed that protective factors related to elder abuse are mainly examined at a perpetrator level, including caregiver-related factors (e.g., caregiver coping strategies), relational factors (e.g., premorbid relationship rewards), and contextual factors (e.g., informal support from family and friends during the COVID-19 pandemic). Adverse effects, specifically an increased risk of various medical conditions and poor medication adherence, were identified but less frequently discussed. This review highlights the need for better support and training for caregivers of older adults with dementia, as well as comprehensive policies to prevent elder abuse. It also calls for future research to find ways to protect these older adults and mitigate the adverse effects of elder abuse.

Prevalence and Factors Associated with Abuse among Elderly in a Community of Kirtipur Municipality

Elderly Abuse is a public Health concern. Elderly people in a community may only perceive physical abuse as an abuse and may not think other abuse as abuse to them therefore is left unrecognized and unreported. According to World Health Organization, 2021 around 1 in 6 people of age 60 years above experienced some form of abuse in community setting during past year. More research and depth study is needed regarding elderly abuse. The main objective of the study was to assess the prevalence of elderly abuse and its associated factors in community of Kirtipur municipality. A Cross-sectional study on prevalence and associated factors of abuse among elderly in a community of Kirtipur municipality was conducted. Semi-structured interview schedule was used. Data analysis was done by using SPSS version 25.0 in descriptive statistics (mean, median, standard deviation, frequency and percentage) and inferential statistics chi- square test was used to find out association between level of awareness and selected demographic variables. The findings of the study show prevalence of elderly abuse to be 11.4%. Caregiver neglect (9.5%) and psychological abuse (9.5%) were found to be most experienced by elderly. Among the socio-demographic variables the present study showed elderly abuse significantly associated (p<0.05) with elderly’s health status, elderly’s dependency level in daily living activities and involvement in income generating activities. The study concluded that elderly with poor health status, who are dependent for daily living activities and those who are not involved in income generating activities are more vulnerable to abuse. Although this study shows lower prevalence rate in elderly abuse measures need to be taken to prevent it.

노인학대 실태 분석 및 재학대 대응 방안 - 경기도 S 노인보호전문기관을 중심으로

This study aims to understand the current state of elder abuse and analyze the types, frequency, incidence rates, and characteristics of both victims and perpetrators. The objective is to identify the factors influencing the duration of abuse and the likelihood of re-reporting abuse. To this end, 1,239 cases of elder abuse reported to the Gyeonggi S Senior Protection Agency from 2019 to 2023 were reanalyzed. Key findings from the analysis revealed, through multiple linear regression, that certain factors significantly contribute to the extended duration of abuse. These factors include cases involving elderly couples, a dementia diagnosis in the victim, and the victim's lack of completion in preventive education for re-abuse. Furthermore, binary logistic regression analysis showed that victims who had not completed preventive education for re-abuse had a 2.49 times higher likelihood of re-reporting abuse compared to those who had completed the training. This result highlights the importance of preventive education on elder abuse. Based on these findings, the study suggests that strengthening tailored care services for elderly couples, establishing a robust dementia care system, and providing ongoing preventive education for both victims and perpetrators are effective measures to prevent re-abuse. Finally, policy and practical recommendations for preventing elder abuse were proposed based on these research results.

Elder Abuse between EAG and non-EAG States in India: A Decomposition Analysis Approach

Objective: The primary aim of this study is to identify the key factors contributing to the differences in the prevalence of elder abuse between Empowered Action Group (EAG) states and non-EAG states. Methods: The data for this study was sourced from the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI) Wave 1, conducted in 2017-18. The study focused on older adults aged 60+ from a sample of 10,686 from EAG states and 20,166 from non-EAG states. A multivariate nonlinear decomposition analysis was conducted to identify the key factors contributing to the gap in elder abuse prevalence between EAG and non-EAG states in India. The main goal was to determine the covariates driving these variations. Results: The decomposition analysis revealed a significant rise in elder abuse rates among EAG states compared to non-EAG states, driven largely by changes in behavioral responses.

Impact of caregiving stressors on elder abuse—examining the mediating role of caregiver coping strategies

Objectives Based on the Caregiving Stress Theory and Cognitive Theory of Stress and Coping, this study examined whether increase in caregiving stressors had an impact on subsequent increase in different forms of elder abuse. Additionally, this study evaluated how these relationships were influenced by caregiver (CG) coping strategies. Method A group of 800 Chinese primary family CGs and their care recipients (CRs) with mild cognitive impairment or mild-to-moderate dementia were analyzed. Participatory dyads were assessed and followed for 2 years. Structural Equation Models were used to test the associations among caregiving stressors, CG coping strategies, and elder abuse. Results Increase in caregiving stressors (ie CR decreased cognitive function, neuropsychiatric symptoms, and functional impairment) significantly increased the level of subsequent physical abuse, psychological abuse, and neglect. In addition, the associations between caregiving stressors and different forms of elder abuse as stated above was mediated by CG dysfunctional coping strategies. Conclusion This study highlights the varying impact of caregiving stressors on different types of elder abuse and emphasizes the role of CG coping strategies in mediating these relationships. The findings provide valuable insights for the development of intervention protocols targeting both caregiving stressors and CG coping strategies to prevent elder abuse.

An Exploration of the Knowledge and Current Practices of Frontline Workers Regarding Elder Abuse.

Annually, approximately 16% of adults aged 60 and older are victims of abuse in community settings. A critical first step toward effectively intervening and reducing the prevalence of elder abuse is to better understand the current state of knowledge, beliefs, and practices. This qualitative descriptive study explored the perceptions of US frontline community workers regarding elder abuse through focus groups and interviews conducted in the spring and summer of 2021. Participants represented various aging and victim services (n = 9), healthcare (n = 7), and law enforcement (n = 8). Thematic data analysis led to the emergence of three major themes in our data: societal influence, individual circumstances, and nature of abuse. Our findings point out several directions in which researchers and policymakers can begin moving the field forward. These include the need to focus on prevention strategies as well as the need to reduce ageist beliefs and attitudes.

Elder Abuse Around the World: An International Perspective

Elder abuse is a hidden epidemic, with millions of older adults experiencing physical, psychological, or financial harm each year. However, the true extent of the problem is unknown due to under-reporting and lack of reliable data. This paper aims to provide an international perspective on the hidden epidemic of elder abuse, exploring the prevalence, risk factors, and consequences of this global issue. A systematic review of the literature was conducted using multiple databases. Studies from various countries were included to overview the problem comprehensively. The prevalence of elder abuse varies widely across countries, but it is estimated that at least 1 in 6 older adults experience some form of abuse. Risk factors include female gender, advanced age, cognitive impairment, and social isolation. Consequences of elder abuse include physical and psychological harm, premature death, and reduced quality of life. Elder abuse is a severe and pervasive global problem. The lack of reliable data and under-reporting makes it difficult to assess its prevalence and impact accurately. The review underscores the urgent need for a worldwide response to elder abuse tailored to consider cultural contexts and local resources. Collaborative efforts between governmental and non-governmental organizations are essential to raise awareness, provide education on elder rights, and implement effective prevention strategies. Establishing robust reporting mechanisms and support frameworks for victims of elder abuse is crucial for safeguarding the wellbeing of older adults worldwide.