INTRODUCTION

• Elder abuse refers to the physical and emotional mistreatment, sexual abuse, neglect and negligent
treatment of children, as well as to their commercial or other exploitation

• Elder abuse is a violation on older adults’ fundamental rights to be safe and free from violence and
contradicts efforts toward improved well-being and quality of life in healthy aging.

• Within the field of elder abuse, different terms are used to define the parameters of violence, abuse,
neglect, self-neglect, and exploitation of the elderly as described within specific context.
• In low- and middle-income countries, where the burden of violence is the greatest, prevalence is likely
higher. Predictions indicate that by 2050, 22 percent of the world population will be 60 years or older,
doubling the 2009 global population of older adults (UN, 2009).

NRC. 2003

MEASURING AND CONCEPTUALIZING ELDER ABUSE

• Measuring elder abuse is challenging, as definitions and
conceptualizations of what constitutes elder abuse vary across
disciplines, sectors, and cultures.
• Several speakers noted that there are not only differences in types of
abuse, but that it occurs in different settings;
➢ Here are some of them
➢ ABUSE OCCURRING IN THE COMMUNITY
➢ CULTURAL CONTEXT
➢ ABUSE OCCURRING IN INSTITUTIONS
➢ COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT
➢ NEGLECT AND SELF-NEGLECT
➢ CONCEPTUALIZING ELDER ABUSE

(CDC, 2013).
 RISK FACTORS AND HEALTH OUTCOMES
The prevalence of abuse and the context in which it occurs provide an important but incomplete
picture of the overall burden of elder abuse
Identifying and understanding factors that are associated with both predicting and protecting
from occurrences of elder abuse is key to determining how to prevent abuse, particularly through
primary prevention
HERE ARE SOME OF THE FACTO

(REIN AND NAHMIAH, 1998)

PREVENTION
• Despite the magnitude of elder abuse around the world, little is known about
how to prevent it before it occurs or how to stop it once it starts.
• Here are some of the potential strategies and considerations for prevention in
different settings:
Health care
The community
The legal system
The financial sector.
                                                                                     IOM and NRC.
2013
 THE WAY FORWARD
• To move the field of elder abuse and prevention forward, innovative ideas are needed that
will contribute to the evidence base, raise awareness, change attitudes, and provide the
necessary tools to take action.
• Elder abuse also needs to be recognized as a growing women’s issue, as well as a baby
boomers’ issue.
• To continue to move the field of elder abuse forward, here are some of the way forward;
1. develop policy to recognize elder abuse as a public health issue;
2. address research priorities critical to inform policy and practice: intervention,
defining success, prevention, data collection, and cost;
3. translate what we know into practice;
4. address the resources issue;
5. implement law and developing policy infrastructure;
6. develop a political constituency; and
7. promote innovation.

INPEA ON JUNE 15, 2006

 

CONCLUSION
Elder abuse is a pervasive public health issue, yet there are major gaps in understanding the
cultural and social complexities with respect to elder abuse among the diverse Chinese
population worldwide. Moreover, due to the vast diversities within the Chinese population, we
need national and international studies to provide in-depth data on the abuse of older persons.
From the policy perspectives, communities, cities, and states should take a critical lead in
reducing social isolation, and increasing social networks and companionship for this group of
older adults. Incorporating the cultural, social, and community contexts that affect their health
and well-being will contribute to the salience of practice and policy impact of prevention,
intervention, detection, and reporting of elder abuse for the global Chinese aging population.
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          THANKS