Elder Abuse
Document Type
Book Chapter
Publication Date
2003
Abstract
Elder abuse is often invisible. There are many reasons for this, including potential legal consequences for both the victim and the perpetrator which may affect their motivation to report the problem. Elderly persons competent to report their victimization are often ashamed or fearful of other potential consequences, including recrimination and the potential negative consequences for the perpetrator, who is typically a family member. The private setting in which abuse occurs further limits its detection. In recent years, a few widely publicized cases occurring in nursing homes have alerted and alarmed the public to this problem. While these accounts have served to raise interest in elder abuse, recent evidence suggests that abuse occurs etc. more frequently in private homes than in institutions. In this entry, we will describe dominant theoretical explanations for elder abuse. We will then summarize findings regarding risk factors associated with abuse. Drawing from the limited empirical literature we will then describe potentially effective primary prevention strategies for physical and psychological mistreatment.
Department
Psychology
Publication Title
Encyclopedia of Primary Prevention and Health Promotion
Recommended Citation
Fisher, J.E., Henderson, D., & Buchanan, J.A. (2003). Elder Abuse. In M.Bloom & T. Gullotta (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Primary Prevention and Health Promotion. New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers.
Publisher's Copyright and Source
Copyright © 2003 Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers. http://link.springer.com/book/10.1007%2F978-1-4615-0195-4
