Risk Factors For Elder Abuse Research Articles

An assessment of interventions that target risk factors for elder abuse.

Although there is increasing concern about both the prevalence of, and harms associated with the abuse of older adults, progress in the development of interventions to prevent its occurrence has been slow. This paper reports the findings of a systematic review of the published literature that identified studies in which the outcomes of preventative interventions are described. A total of eight different intervention trials, published since 2004, are described across the primary, secondary and tertiary levels of prevention and in terms of the types of risk factor that they target. The current evidence to support the effectiveness of these interventions is not only limited by the small number of outcome studies but also the poor quality of evaluation designs and the focus of many interventions on single risk factors. It is concluded that work is needed to strengthen the evidence base that supports the delivery of interventions to prevent elder abuse.

Prevalence of and Risk Factors for Elder Abuse and Neglect in the Community: A Population-Based Study.

To estimate past-year prevalence and identify risk and protective factors of elder emotional abuse, physical abuse, and neglect. Cross-sectional, population-based study using random-digit-dial sampling and direct telephone interviews. New York State households. Representative (race, ethnicity, sex) sample (N = 4,156) of English- or Spanish-speaking, community-dwelling, cognitively intact individuals aged 60 and older. The Conflict Tactics Scale was adapted to assess elder emotional and physical abuse. Elder neglect was evaluated according to failure of a responsible caregiver to meet an older adult's needs using the Duke Older Americans Resources and Services (OARS) scale. Caseness thresholds were based on mistreatment behavior frequencies and elder perceptions of problem seriousness. Past-year prevalence of elder emotional abuse was 1.9%, of physical abuse was 1.8%, and of neglect was 1.8%, with an aggregate prevalence of 4.6%. Emotional and physical abuse were associated with being separated or divorced, living in a lower-income household, functional impairment, and younger age. Neglect was associated with poor health, being separated or divorced, living below the poverty line, and younger age. Neglect was less likely in older adults of Hispanic ethnicity. Elder abuse and neglect are common problems, with divergent risk and protective factor profiles. These findings have direct implications for public screening and education and awareness efforts designed to prevent elder mistreatment.

Eliciting Change in At-Risk Elders (ECARE): Evaluation of an Elder Abuse Intervention Program

The current study evaluated the effectiveness of a community-based elder abuse intervention program that assists suspected victims of elder abuse and self-neglect through a partnership with local law enforcement. This program, Eliciting Change in At-Risk Elders, involves building alliances with the elder and family members, connecting the elder to supportive services that reduce risk of further abuse, and utilizing motivational interviewing-type skills to help elders overcome ambivalence regarding making difficult life changes. Risk factors of elder abuse decreased over the course of the intervention and nearly three-quarters of participants made progress on their treatment goal, advancing at least one of Prochaska and DiClemente’s (1983) stages of change (precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance). Forty-three percent of elders moved into the stages of action and maintenance regarding their goal. The usefulness of eliciting change via longer-term relationships with vulnerable elders in entrenched elder abuse situations is discussed.

A Systematic Review of Prevalence and Risk Factors for Elder Abuse in Asia

The number of older victims of domestic violence is expected to increase drastically in Asia as many countries are experiencing rapid population aging. In 2012, 11% of the population in Asia were aged 60 years and over. This is expected to rise to 24% by 2050. This article discusses the unique features of Asian cultures that are relevant to the understanding of elder abuse and summarizes the existing literature looking at the prevalence and risk factors of such abuse in Asian populations.

Relationships and Community Risk Factors for Elder Abuse and Neglect: Findings from the First National Prevalence Study on Elder Maltreatment

OBJECTIVES: The objective of the study was to mesaure the 12-months prevalence of elder abuse and neglect in private huousehold and to examine the relationship and community level risk factors for elder abuse and neglect.METHOD: Total of 960 respondents aged 65 years and above in private households, from all eight statistical regions participated in the study. Nationally stratified quota sampling procedure was applied, through four stages. Information was collected in face-to face interview on socio-demographic, healthy life style, physical and mental health, and abuse and neglect types characteristics of elder population. Data were examined using descriptive statistics, binary logistic regression, and odd ratios (OR). Statistical significance was set up at p < 0.05.RESULTS: The respondents reported prevalence of psychological abuse 25.7%, followed by financial abuse 12 %, neglect 6.6%, physical abuse 5.7%, physical injury 3.1%, and sexual abuse 1.3% (reported only in female respondents) in the previous 12-months. Living with close relatives, dissatisfaction with the household income, less equipped households, lacking property of house/flat are associated risk factors for elder maltreatment on relationship level. Living in the northeast, southeast, and Polog region are associated risk for elder maltreatment.CONCLUSION: Study findings emphasised the previous data obtained with regards to the community and relationships risk factors for elder maltreatment.

Gender as Individual Risk Factor for Elderly Abuse: Findings from First National Prevalence Study in Macedonia

BACKGROUND:Â National prevalence study of elderly abuse in Macedonia intended to explore prevalence and risk factors of elder abuse and neglect. Â This paper is focused on influence of the gender as individual risk factor, according to ecological model, on elderly abuse and neglect.METHODS: Culturally validated questionnaire and Geriatric Depression scale was used for data collection. Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) test, was used for sample selection. Cutting score was 20. The research was conducted through face-to-face interviews on the sample of 960 respondents aged 65 and over.RESULTS:Â Evidenced were 32% abused and neglected from representative sample, living in private households, 19% of abused was female. In Macedonian study women are 1.6 times often victims of abuse than man. Only female respondents reported sexual abuse.CONCLUSION: Being female is risk factor for being exposed on any type of abuse and neglect, excluding financial abuse.

Relationships and Community Risk Factors for Elder Abuse and Neglect: Findings from the First National Prevalence Study on Elder Maltreatment

Relationships and Community Risk Factors for Elder Abuse and Neglect: Findings from the First National Prevalence Study on Elder Maltreatment

Gender as Individual Risk Factor for Elderly Abuse: Findings from First National Prevalence Study in Macedonia

BACKGROUND:Â National prevalence study of elderly abuse in Macedonia intended to explore prevalence and risk factors of elder abuse and neglect. Â This paper is focused on influence of the gender as individual risk factor, according to ecological model, on elderly abuse and neglect.METHODS: Culturally validated questionnaire and Geriatric Depression scale was used for data collection. Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) test, was used for sample selection. Cutting score was 20. The research was conducted through face-to-face interviews on the sample of 960 respondents aged 65 and over.RESULTS:Â Evidenced were 32% abused and neglected from representative sample, living in private households, 19% of abused was female. In Macedonian study women are 1.6 times often victims of abuse than man. Only female respondents reported sexual abuse.CONCLUSION: Being female is risk factor for being exposed on any type of abuse and neglect, excluding financial abuse.

Social support, socio-economic status, health and abuse among older people in seven European countries.

BackgroundSocial support has a strong impact on individuals, not least on older individuals with health problems. A lack of support network and poor family or social relations may be crucial in later life, and represent risk factors for elder abuse. This study focused on the associations between social support, demographics/socio-economics, health variables and elder mistreatment.MethodsThe cross-sectional data was collected by means of interviews or interviews/self-response during January-July 2009, among a sample of 4,467 not demented individuals aged 60–84 years living in seven European countries (Germany, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden).ResultsMultivariate analyses showed that women and persons living in large households and with a spouse/partner or other persons were more likely to experience high levels of social support. Moreover, frequent use of health care services and low scores on depression or discomfort due to physical complaints were indicators of high social support. Low levels of social support were related to older age and abuse, particularly psychological abuse.ConclusionsHigh levels of social support may represent a protective factor in reducing both the vulnerability of older people and risk of elder mistreatment. On the basis of these results, policy makers, clinicians and researchers could act by developing intervention programmes that facilitate friendships and social activities in old age.

Evidence-Based Practice Guideline: Elder Abuse Prevention

Elder abuse occurs in all practice settings and presents in various forms. The purpose of the current evidence-based practice guideline is to facilitate health care professionals' assessment of older adults in domestic and institutional settings who are at risk for elder abuse, and to recommend interventions to reduce the incidence of mistreatment. Limited research has been conducted on interventions to prevent or reduce elder abuse. Research is available on the prevalence of elder abuse and indicators of individuals who may be more susceptible to harm. The current article summarizes prevalence and risk factors for elder abuse, instruments available to assess individuals at risk for or victims of abuse, and potential interventions to prevent or reduce elder abuse. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 44(7), 21-30.].

Elder Abuse in Nursing Homes: An Ecological Perspective

Population trends suggest that the next 20 years will witness a dramatic increase in the adult population aged 65 and older. Projected increases in the elderly population are expected to significantly increase the stress on family and professional caretakers. Stress, in the context of caregiving relationships, is a risk factor associated with increased prevalence of elder abuse in familial and institutional settings. As increasing numbers of older adults are moved from family caregiving to nursing home care settings, it becomes important to identify the pattern of elder abuse risk factors in nursing home facilities. An ecological model is proposed for better understanding the risk factors associated with elder abuse in nursing homes and the complex interaction of individual/person characteristics and contextual factors in institutional elder abuse. An ecological perspective to institutional elder abuse provides a framework for guiding and informing future research on the risk factors of nursing home abuse and, in turn, for the development of effective interventions and relevant social policies.

Abuse of older Chinese with dementia by family caregivers: an inquiry into the role of caregiver burden

This study examined the prevalence and risk factors for elder abuse in older Chinese with dementia by their family caregivers in Hong Kong. A sample of 122 family caregivers of older persons with dementia was conveniently recruited from local community centers for the elderly. Participants provided information on their demographic characteristics, care recipients' physical functioning and agitated behavior, caregiver burden, and whether they had directed any abusive behavior at the care recipients in the previous month. Sixty-two and 18 per cent of the caregivers reported having verbally or physically abused the care recipients in the past month. Family caregivers who spent more days co-residing with the care recipients, lacked any assistance from a domestic helper, observed more agitated behaviors in the care recipients, and/or reported a higher level of caregiver stress, reported more abusive behaviors. The results of hierarchical regression analysis showed that the number of co-residing days (p < 0.001), lack of any assistance from a domestic helper (p < 0.05), and caregiver burden (p < 0.01) were significant predictors of verbal abuse. Care recipient agitated behavior (p < 0.01) also predicted verbal abuse, with its effect mediated by caregiver burden. For physical abuse, the number of co-residing days (p < 0.01) was the only significant predictor. Verbal and physical abuse were highly prevalent among this population of older Chinese with dementia. A higher level of caregiver stress is related to a higher level of verbal, but not physical abuse inflicted by the caregivers of these older persons with dementia.

The Ethics of Suspecting Abuse of an Elder

The Ethics of Suspecting Abuse of an Elder

Risk factors of elder abuse in a community dwelling Spanish sample

We analyzed the discriminative capacity of several risk factors for elder abuse and neglect, in order to identify what characteristics distinguish between caregivers with a high or low risk of abuse and neglect. Forty-five caregivers of relatives with dementia participated. The combination of caregiving impact, frequency of aggressive behaviors by care-recipients, stress related to provocative and aggressive behaviors, the frequency of provocative behaviors, interpersonal burden, autoefficiency expectations, quantity of help received and depression classify correctly as risk factors in 90.9% of the cases. This study permits us to identify what characteristics distinguish between caregivers with a high or low risk of abuse and neglect and caregivers.

Depression and Elder Abuse and Neglect Among a Community-Dwelling Chinese Elderly Population

ABSTRACT Our recent survey of an elderly cohort in mainland China suggests that elder abuse and neglect are common. Unfortunately, there is minimal knowledge about the risk factors for elder abuse and neglect among this population. We aimed to examine depression as a risk factor for elder abuse and neglect among Chinese elderly. A cross-sectional study was performed in a major urban medical center in NanJing, China. Depression was assessed using the Geriatric Depression Scale and direct questions were asked regarding abuse and neglect experienced by the elderly since the age of 60; 412 patients completed the survey. The mean age of the participants was 70 and 34% were female. Depression was found in 12% of the participants and elder abuse and neglect was found in 35% of the participants. After multiple logistical regression, feeling of dissatisfaction with life (OR, 2.92; 95% CI, 1.51–5.68, p < 0.001), often being bored (OR, 2.91; CI, 1.53–5.55, p < 0.001), often feeling helpless (OR, 2.79; CI, 1.35–5.76, p < 0.001), and feeling worthless (OR, 2.16; CI, 1.10–4.22, p < 0.001) were associated with increased risk of elder abuse and neglect. Multiple logistic regression modeling showed that depression is independently associated with elder abuse and neglect (OR, 3.26; CI, 1.49–7.10, p < 0.003). These findings suggest that depression is a significant risk factor associated with elder abuse and neglect among Chinese elderly.

Elder abuse and neglect in two different socioeconomic districts in Izmir, Turkey

To determine and compare the prevalence and risk factors of elder abuse in elderly population in two different districts in Izmir, Turkey. This cross-sectional study involved 497 subjects selected by cluster sampling. The prevalence of physical and financial abuse among the elderly in the district of low socioeconomic status was 1.5% and 2.5%, respectively, while among the elderly in the district of high socioeconomic status, it was 2% and 0.3%, respectively. However, the prevalence of elder neglect in the two districts was 27.4% and 11.2%, respectively. Prevalence of neglect was associated with infrequent contact with relatives, little or no income, and fewer years of education among the elderly in the low socioeconomic district. In the high socioeconomic district, neglect was associated with fewer years in education, poor health status and having chronic status. The prevalence of abuse among the elderly living in the two different districts was low. However, nearly one-fifth of elderly people were exposed to neglect.

Risk factors for elder abuse and neglect: brief descriptions of different scenarios in South Africa

Aim. To describe various situations in which older people in South Africa are vulnerable. Background. Poverty compromises the health of many older people in South Africa but the circumstances and ways in which this is managed and risk thought of is poorly understood. This paper presents three scenarios that describe individual studies and provide insight into the factors influencing the lives of some older people. Method. Scenario 1 concerns people with dementia. Pilot work has collected interview data from four people with dementia, their four informal carers and three hospital nursing staff. Scenario 2 concerns an analysis of data collected routinely as part of the Halt Elder Abuse Line, a telephone-based service for people to report abuse. Scenario 3 concerns an interview study with farm workers who have retired and who are vulnerable to being displaced from the farms. Conclusion. A variety of policy, social and individual factors result in older people being vulnerable and continuing research is required to further develop an understanding of these dynamics of risk to promote changes to current policy and practices.

Elder Abuse by Caregivers: A Study of Prevalence and Risk Factors in Hong Kong Chinese Families

This study aimed to establish preliminary estimates and related risk factors for elder abuse among Hong Kong Chinese families. A total of 276 elder Chinese participated in the study, among which 27.5% reported having experienced at least one abusive behavior committed against them by their caregivers during the surveyed year. The most common form of abuse was verbal abuse (26.8%), whereas physical abuse (2.5%) and violation of personal rights (5.1%) were relatively less common. There was no gender difference in the prevalence of elder abuse. Overall and verbal abuse were best predicted by participants' poor visual and memory abilities, dependence on the caregivers, and caregivers' nondependence on them. Physical abuse was best predicted by caregivers' nondependence on the participants as well as participants' dependence on the caregivers. Participants' age was the only significant predictor for violation of personal rights. Results, limitations, and implications of the study were also discussed.

A study of elder abuse and risk factors in Japanese families: Focused on the Social Affiliation Model

The aim of this study was to clarify the risk factors for elder abuse in Japanese families, and so 3600 mail surveys and 78 home visits were conducted. People who had strong social affiliation tended to force the elderly to obey a caregiver's opinion. Three items were found to be the key predictors of elder abuse by logistic analysis: the elderly who wander due to senility, the caregiver's health problems and the caregiver's misunderstanding of the elder's conditions.

Elder Abuse Identification and Referral: The Importance of Screening Tools and Referral Protocols

ABSTRACTBarriers exist with regard to elder abuse identification and reporting nationwide and in individual states like Ohio. Screening tools and referral protocols have been shown to be helpful in overcoming some of these barriers. However, existing instruments typically lack three qualities: (1) distinction as to types, signs, and risk factors of elder abuse; (2) inclusion of domestic violence in late life as a specific aspect of elder abuse; and (3) delineation of appropriate state laws and community services for effective intervention. This article discusses a project to develop, test, and disseminate screening tools and a referral protocol for improving the identification and reporting of elder abuse and domestic violence in late life by Ohio service providers. The impetus, goal, and organization of this 18 month initiative are described.