Elder Mistreatment Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation in an Aging America (2003) / Chapter Skim
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5. Risk Factors for Elder Mistreatment
5. Risk Factors for Elder Mistreatment
Pages 88-103
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From page 88... ...
, have been frequently repeated and widely believed, despite the lack of evidence. Thus, although fairly extensive research on risk factors for child abuse and intimate partner abuse has been conducted, the risk factor literature on elder mistreatment is both limited and inconsistent.
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From page 89... ...
PROBLEMS IN THE RESEARCH BASE Prior to summarizing the available findings, it is important to review briefly the problems in using existing research to establish risk factors for elder mistreatment. Problems exist in two areas: (1)
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From page 90... ...
Third, studies of risk factors have employed widely differing sampling methods, including random sample surveys, interviews with patients in medical practices or caregivers in support programs, and reviews of agency records. Fourth, few studies that have purported to address risk factors have in fact included control groups in their designs.
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From page 91... ...
For these reasons, a clear framework of known risk factors for elder mistreatment cannot be derived from previous research on elder abuse. Despite a large number of review articles over the past two decades, it must be acknowledged that any statements about relative risk among the elderly should be viewed with caution.
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From page 92... ...
RISK FACTORS VALIDATED BY SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE Living Arrangement Both clinical accounts and limited empirical research suggest that a shared living situation is a major risk factor for elder mistreatment, with older persons living alone at lowest risk (Pillemer and Finkelhor, 1988~. Paveza et al.
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From page 93... ...
(1994) prospective, community-based study of risk factors for elder abuse, having a "poor social network" significantly increased risk of mistreatment.
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From page 94... ...
In the field of elder mistreatment, there is compelling evidence that certain characteristics of perpetrators constitute major risk factors for elder mistreatment, with surprising unanimity on this issue among studies using different methods. Mental Illness Wolf and Pillemer (1989)
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From page 95... ...
In a recent study, Williamson and Shaffer (2001) conducted structured interviews with 142 spousal caregivers regarding "potentially harmful behaviors"; these 10 items included verbal aggression, threats, and physical violence.
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From page 96... ...
POSSIBLE RISK FACTORS Gender Adult protective services reports and other studies of agency samples universally find that the majority of victims are female (Wolf, 1997b)
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From page 97... ...
agency." No other study has found significant differences in elder abuse risk based on race. CONTESTED RISK FACTORS Physical Impairment of the Older Person The role of victim health and functional status as a risk factor for elder abuse is a complex one.
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From page 98... ...
, nor Phillips (1983) in casecomparison studies found functional impairment to be a risk factor for abuse by caregivers.
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From page 99... ...
In addition, given that in the elder mistreatment field the victim and perpetrator have been in a long-standing personal relationship, as spouses or as parent and child, it may be more important to assess the type of relationship between the abuser and the victim as a risk factor for elder mistreatment. ELDER MISTREATMENT IN INSTITUTIONAL SETTINGS Despite the likelihood that elder mistreatment in nursing homes is equally or more prevalent than abuse in domestic settings, only one study has been conducted that specifically addressed risk factors.
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From page 100... ...
She proposes three risk factors from these studies: stressful working conditions, particularly resulting from staff shortages; staff burnout; and the joint effects of resident aggression and poor training of staff in management of challenging behaviors. Pillemer (2001)
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From page 101... ...
Most retrospective epidemiological research has used readily available case populations for studies, while attempting to sample well-defined control groups. Many of the advances in understanding risk factors associated with child abuse and intimate partner violence occurred as the result of participation and engagement between the research communities and the service provider agencies.
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From page 102... ...
It is therefore both possible and important to identify risk factors for an increase or intensification in elder mistreatment. For these reasons, cohort studies are of great importance in determining risk factors for elder mistreatment.
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From page 103... ...
This is in addition to adapting measures of risk factors that have been developed in the child mistreatment field and in other research.
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