Transaction Search Form: please type in any of the fields below.
Date: April 30, 2024 Tue
Time: 12:26 am
Time: 12:26 am
Results for elderly victims
38 results foundAuthor: Newman, Frederick L. Title: Testing a Model of Domestic Abuse Against Elder Women and Perceived Barriers to Help-Seeking: Comparing Victim and Non-Victim Responses Summary: This study examined perceived barriers to help-seeking by female victims of domestic abuse ages 50 and over compared to the perceived barriers for women in the same age group who had not been victims of such abuse The analyses of the empirical model used in the study found that perceived barriers to help-seeking involve six factors that are present in distinctive ways based on the severity of abuse, race-ethnicity, relationship with the abuser, gender of the abuser, and age. Details: Miami, FL: Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work, Florida International University, 2009. 118p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 11, 2010 at: http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/231095.pdf Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/231095.pdf Shelf Number: 119924 Keywords: Domestic ViolenceElder AbuseElderly VictimsFemale VictimsVictims of Crime, Services for |
Author: Titterington, Victoria B. Title: Elder Abuse Summary: This report focuses upon the criminal victimization experiences of persons age 60 or older. It is based upon the results of the 2005 and 2006 Texas Crime Victimization Surveys, administered by the Public Policy Research Institute at Texas A&M University (Crime Victims’ Institute 2005, 2006). The surveys in these two years resulted in a total of 1,466 respondents, 280 of whom were age 60 or older. Both the 2005 and 2006 surveys included questions related to property and violent crimes. Property crimes include theft, burglary, property damage and identity theft. Violent crime in this survey refers to various types of personal assault. In addition, the 2005 survey focused upon identity theft, and the 2006 survey focused on stalking. These surveys also included questions about respondents’ lifestyles and feelings of personal safety, as well as crime victims’ perceptions of police responses to reported victimization. Details: Houston, TX: Crime Victims' Institute, Criminal Justice Center, Sam Houston State University, 2010. 23p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 26, 2010 at: http://www.crimevictimsinstitute.org/documents/CVI_Elder_Abuse_Report_final.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://www.crimevictimsinstitute.org/documents/CVI_Elder_Abuse_Report_final.pdf Shelf Number: 120094 Keywords: Elder AbuseElderly VictimsVictimization Surveys |
Author: U.S. Government Accountability Office Title: Guardianships: Cases of Financial Exploitation, Neglect, and Abuse of Seniors Summary: As individuals age, some become incapable of managing their personal and financial affairs. To protect these individuals, state laws provide for court appointment of guardians, who may be professionals or family members, to protect the incapacitated person's personal and/or financial welfare. State and local courts are responsible for overseeing guardians. In addition, federal agencies may appoint a representative payee, in some cases, the guardian, to manage federal benefits on behalf of incapacitated adults. Previous GAO reports have found that poor communication between state courts and federal agencies may allow guardians to continue abusing their victims. GAO was asked to (1) verify whether allegations of abuse by guardians are widespread; (2) examine the facts in selected closed cases; and (3) proactively test state guardian certification processes. To verify whether allegations are widespread, GAO interviewed advocates for seniors and reviewed court documents. To examine closed criminal, civil or administrative cases with a finding of guilt or liability in the past 15 years, GAO reviewed court records, interviewed court officials, attorneys and victims, and reviewed records from federal agencies. To test state guardian certification, GAO used fictitious identities to apply for certification in four states. GAO's results cannot be projected to the overall population of guardians or state certification programs. GAO could not determine whether allegations of abuse by guardians are widespread; however, GAO identified hundreds of allegations of physical abuse, neglect and financial exploitation by guardians in 45 states and the District of Columbia between 1990 and 2010. In 20 selected closed cases, GAO found that guardians stole or otherwise improperly obtained $5.4 million in assets from 158 incapacitated victims, many of whom were seniors. In some instances, guardians also physically neglected and abused their victims. The guardians in these cases came from diverse professional backgrounds and were overseen by local courts in 15 states and the District of Columbia. GAO found several common themes. In 6 of 20 cases, the courts failed to adequately screen potential guardians, appointing individuals with criminal convictions or significant financial problems to manage high-dollar estates. In 12 of 20 cases, the courts failed to oversee guardians once they were appointed, allowing the abuse of vulnerable seniors and their assets to continue. Lastly, in 11 of 20 cases, courts and federal agencies did not communicate effectively or at all with each other about abusive guardians, allowing the guardian to continue the abuse of the victim and/or others. Using two fictitious identities--one with bad credit and one with the Social Security number of a deceased person -- GAO obtained guardianship certification or met certification requirements in the four states where we applied: Illinois, Nevada, New York, and North Carolina. Though certification is intended to provide assurance that guardians are qualified to fulfill their role, none of the courts or certification organizations utilized by these states checked the credit history or validated the Social Security number of the fictitious applicants. An individual who is financially overextended is at a higher risk of engaging in illegal acts to generate funds. In addition, people with criminal convictions could easily conceal their pasts by stealing a deceased person's identity. The tests raise questions about the effectiveness of these four state certification programs. Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Government Accountability Office, 2010. 53p. Source: Internet Resource: GAO-10-1046: Accessed October 29, 2010 at: http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d101046.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d101046.pdf Shelf Number: 120124 Keywords: Elder AbuseElderly VictimsEmbezzlementFinancial CrimesFraudRestitution |
Author: Fernandez-Lanier, Adriana Title: 2008 Domestic Incident Reports Involving Elderly Victims Summary: This report examines domestic incidents involving victims 65 years or older that were reported to law enforcement in 2008 and documented in New York State domestic incident reports (DIRs). Since the definition of elder abuse varies and a comprehensive reporting system does not exist, elder abuse research generally relies on data from county Adult Protective Services (APS) or general population surveys to define the prevalence of the problem. In 2008, DIRs involving elderly victims were received by DCJS from police departments upstate and on Long Island and scanned and entered into an electronic database. The New York City Police Department (NYPD) electronically submits only data from fields in the DIR filed with the department. DIR data are presented for New York City (NYC) and the rest of New York State. This report describes the domestic incidents and includes information on the relationship between the victim and suspect, victim and suspect demographics, offense category, orders of protection and arrest information, if one was made. Details: Albany: New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services, Office of Justice Research & Performance, 2010. 13p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 9, 2010 at: http://criminaljustice.state.ny.us/crimnet/ojsa/2008_dir_elderly_report.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://criminaljustice.state.ny.us/crimnet/ojsa/2008_dir_elderly_report.pdf Shelf Number: 120408 Keywords: Domestic Violence (New York State)Elder AbuseElderly Victims |
Author: U.S. Government Accountability Office Title: Elder Justice: Stronger Federal Leadership Could Enhance National Response to Elder Abuse Summary: Each day, news reports cite instances of older adults across the United States being abused, denied needed care, or financially exploited, often by those they depend on. This report contains information on (1) existing estimates of the extent of elder abuse and their quality, (2) factors associated with elder abuse and its impact on victims, (3) characteristics and challenges of state Adult Protective Services (APS) responsible for addressing elder abuse, and (4) federal support and leadership in this area. To obtain this information, GAO reviewed relevant research; visited six states and surveyed state APS programs; analyzed budgetary and other federal documents; reviewed federal laws and regulations; and interviewed federal officials, researchers, and elder abuse experts. The most recent study of the extent of elder abuse estimated that 14.1 percent of noninstitutionalized older adults had experienced physical, psychological, or sexual abuse; neglect; or financial exploitation in the past year. This study and three other key studies GAO identified likely underestimate the full extent of elder abuse, however. Most did not ask about all types of abuse or include all types of older adults living in the community, such as those with cognitive impairments. In addition, studies in this area cannot be used to track changes in extent over time because they have not measured elder abuse consistently. Based on existing research, various factors appear to place older adults at greater risk of abuse. Physical and cognitive impairments, mental problems, and low social support among victims have been associated with an increased likelihood of elder abuse. Elder abuse has also been associated with negative effects on victims' health and longevity. Although state APS programs vary in their organization and eligibility criteria, they face many of the same challenges. According to program officials, elder abuse caseloads are growing nationwide and cases are increasingly complex and difficult to resolve. However, according to GAO's survey, APS program resources are not keeping pace with these changes. As a result, program officials noted that it is difficult to maintain adequate staffing levels and training. In addition, states indicated they have limited access to information on interventions and practices on how to resolve elder abuse cases, and may struggle to respond to abuse cases appropriately. Many APS programs also face challenges in collecting, maintaining, and reporting statewide case-level administrative data, thereby hampering their ability to track outcomes and assess the effectiveness of services provided. Federal elder justice activities have addressed some APS challenges, but leadership in this area is lacking. Seven agencies within the Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Justice devoted a total of $11.9 million in grants for elder justice activities in fiscal year 2009. These activities have promoted collaboration among APS and its partners, such as law enforcement, but have not offered APS the support it says it needs for resolving elder abuse cases and standardizing the information it reports. Although the Older Americans Act of 1965 has called attention to the importance of federal leadership in the elder justice area, no national policy priorities currently exist. The Administration on Aging in HHS is charged with providing such leadership, but its efforts to do so have been limited. The Elder Justice Act of 2009 authorizes grants to states for their APS programs and provides a vehicle for establishing and implementing national priorities in this area, but does not address national elder abuse incidence studies. The Secretary of HHS should determine the feasibility of providing APS-dedicated guidance, and, in coordination with the Attorney General, facilitate the development and implementation of a nationwide APS data system. Also, Congress should consider requiring HHS to conduct a periodic study to estimate elder abuse's extent. HHS indicated that it will review options for implementing GAO's recommendations. Details: Washington, DC: GAO, 2011. 64p. Source: Internet Resource: GAO-11-208: Accessed March 8, 2011 at: http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d11208.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d11208.pdf Shelf Number: 120903 Keywords: Crimes Against the ElderlyElder AbuseElderly VictimsFinancial CrimesFinancial Exploitation |
Author: Pauls, Monica Title: The Response to Elder Abuse in Alberta: Legislation and Victim Focused Services: Final Report Summary: Addressing family violence is currently a priority for the Alberta Government. Previous efforts in this field have focused on child abuse and domestic violence; an area that is often forgotten about or ignored is elder abuse. However, as our society continues to age at an increasingly rapid pace, it is becoming more important to increase community awareness and to develop an effective response to this issue. This research project was initiated in response to a number of concerns identified by the Action Group on Elder Abuse (AGEA) in Calgary. Concerns included a general lack of knowledge of the issue, the services available, and the mechanisms by which an alleged incident can be reported. There also appears to be deficiencies in Alberta’s current legislation addressing the issue. In order to address these concerns, the project worked to: provide information that assists in improving legislation and reporting practices on elder abuse in Alberta; provide information that assists in improving access to services for victims of elder abuse; provide information that assists in improving the effectiveness of services to meet the needs of victims of elder abuse; and provide information that will enhance the knowledge of service providers on legislation, reporting practices, and access and effectiveness of services for victims of elder abuse. Multiple methods used in this project included a legislative review, service identification in seven municipal locations in Alberta, development of An Alberta Directory of Victim Services for Older Adults and user-friendly information cards for seniors, a self-report survey for victims of elder abuse, in-depth interviews with victims of elder abuse, and information and education workshops for service providers and frontline workers. Details: Calgary, Alberta: Canadian Research Institute for Law and the Family, 2006. 134p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 16, 2011 at: http://people.ucalgary.ca/~crilf/publications/ElderAbuseFinalReport-June2006.pdf Year: 2006 Country: Canada URL: http://people.ucalgary.ca/~crilf/publications/ElderAbuseFinalReport-June2006.pdf Shelf Number: 121031 Keywords: Elder Abuse (Alberta, Canada)Elderly VictimsFamily Violence |
Author: Nagele, Barbara Title: Intimate Partner Violence Against Older Women -- Summary Report Summary: Supported by the European Commission in the Daphne III programme and coordinated by German Police University (Deutsche Hochschule der Polizei), researchers at the universities of Białystok (Poland) and Sheffield (UK), the research institutes Cesis - Centro de Estudos para a Intervenção Social (Portugal), Zoom – Gesellschaft für prospektive Entwicklungen e.V. (Germany), the Institut für Konfliktforschung (Austria) and the Hungarian Academy of Sciences simultaneously explored the topic of violence against women 60 and over at the hands of current and former intimate partners in the six countries. Research tools were developed jointly and the methodological approach coordinated internationally. The research programme comprised the following steps: 1 . Compiling and evaluating data from (domestic) violence support services as well as existing statistics (e.g. from the police) to determine the age structure of registered cases of intimate partner violence; reviewing existing research on the issue 2 . Conducting a survey amongst institutions with probable or at least possible knowledge of cases of intimate partner violence against older women 3 . Interviewing experts having knowledge of cases identified by means of the institutional survey 4 . Interviewing older women currently affected by intimate partner violence or having been victims of IPV in the past 5 . Developing recommendations for national and international contexts involving relevant actors with the aim of improving long-term support for older female victims of intimate partner violence. Institutional knowledge was surveyed and evaluated in research steps 1-3 and 5, while female victims themselves were interviewed in step 4. In addition to information on the problem, its dimensions as reflected in institutional statistics, characteristics of female victims of IPV, male perpetrators and the partnership, attention was especially focused on women’s help-seeking behaviour, how the help system dealt with these cases and on needs and options for service improvement. This report sums up the results of the surveys in all six participating countries. In the country reports, country specific information is given relating to the domestic violence support system and the situation of older women. This information helps to explain many differences we observed in our study. We explicitly encourage readers to make use of the national reports in this respect (see www.ipvow.org). In the national reports all relevant instruments can be found. In the foreword some definitional issues are tackled. Following the executive summary in chapter I in Chapter II the study and the questions posed are presented and conceptual and methodological considerations explained. The research team and the individual steps of the survey are described in detail. In chapter III the results of our review of existing research and data are presented. Although only one Scottish study with an exclusive focus on IPV against older women could be identified, a considerable body of research exists on several issues closely connected to the topic of this study. Some of the studies on elder abuse and neglect as well as on violence against and abuse of older women include information on IPV; the same is true for some (prevalence) studies on domestic violence and victimization surveys. Studies clearly show an age related decline in victimization, but point out that relevant numbers are affected and victims face specific problems. This justifies a special consideration of the phenomenon. In most countries, an overall lack of data on IPV against older women can be observed. Data are usually not sufficiently disaggregated by gender, age, relationship between victim and perpetrator, and type of offence. But still some (mostly regional) data from (domestic) violence and crisis intervention services, police and public prosecutors shed some light on the institutional knowledge of cases. They show that the proportion of older women amongst all female clients is generally low, but higher in non-residential services than in shelters and refuges. Case knowledge of law enforcement agencies is overall low. Significant differences between countries can be observed and should be explored. Chapter IV presents the results of the comparative analysis of data of the institutional survey. This survey examines institutional case knowledge and experts’ perceptions of the issue. A fully standardized questionnaire was sent to a broad range of institutions and professions with possible case knowledge including medical and nursing professions, counselling services and psychosocial institutions, clergy, legal professions and institutions of law enforcement. Sample sizes and compositions differ largely between countries. The overall response rate was 28,6%. Two thirds of the 922 responding institutions reported to have had contact with older female victims of IPV in the years 2006 to 2009. Only one third of public health institutions and institutions dealing with care of older people reported about having encountered such victims, but a high rate of (domestic) violence institutions did. In a 3-year period (2006 to 2008), 10.262 victims got into contact with the participating institutions in the six countries. For 2009 – the year in which the survey was conducted – contacts to 6.073 victims were reported. A major part of the victims have suffered multiple types of violence. According to the experts, violence was overwhelmingly frequent, unilateral, long lasting, and it had started before the age of 60. The perpetrator was the cohabiting partner in 81,2% and a former partner - partly co-habiting (especially in Hungary because of shortage in housing) and partly not co-habiting - in 18,8% of the cases. Institutions were informed about the violence most frequently by the police (47,8% of the cases) or by the victim herself (36,2% of the cases). Other institutions – e.g. health service institutions – play a minor role in case referral. More important are other persons close to the victim. More than half of the organisations with case experience provided psycho-social support, legal advice, and crisis intervention for the victims or information for other institutions in the case. The majority of experts perceive older female victims to be especially reluctant to separation and to face peculiar difficulties when trying to leave the abusive relationship. In chapter V, findings of the interviews with older female victims and with experts are provided. As regards victim interviews, most research teams experienced big difficulties accessing interviewees and thus used multiple and different ways to gain access. A total of 195 interviews with specialists and 58 interviews with older female victims of IPV were carried out. According to experts’ and victims’ reports, women and men involved in violent intimate relationships come from all social and educational backgrounds and violence is predominantly performed by cohabiting partners within long-standing relationship. Often reported is a traditional gender role distribution with high degrees of economic dependency of the women. All interviewed women disclosed some form of partner abuse within their relationship though many were reluctant to use terms such as ‘domestic violence’ or ‘partner violence’ and often appeared to minimise the severity and significance of the abuse they had been subjected to. Most of the women experienced violence already in the beginning of their relationship and throughout the complete course of the marriage. Unequal power relations, gender specific roles and patriarchal societal structures are mentioned as causes of IPV against older women. Alcohol consumption/ alcoholism, abuse of medication and jealousy are seen as triggers. Nevertheless, in a couple of cases violence starts or worsens in older age and the following factors may lead to a late onset or aggravation of violence: increasing dependency (care, household matters), matters relating to property, mental disorders such as dementia and substance abuse, retirement of partner (loss of self-esteem and increase in time spent together), alcohol abuse and sexual disturbances. Older women usually experience a combination of several forms of violence like psychological and physical violence as well as (social) control and financial exploitation and dependency, sexual violence as well as (in fewer cases) intentional neglect. In most cases, unidirectional violence by the male partner against the older women is reported. The cases are marked by pronounced shame of the women, social isolation, psychological disorders, low self esteem and reduced options for change. Health problems play a major role in cases of IPV against older women, they increase vulnerability, reduce coping opportunities and options for help seeking. In our study, it became apparent that often also other persons in the social proximity of older women have to be considered as perpetrators such as sons (in high numbers), neighbours, acquaintances, children of new partners, tenants, staff members of care services were mentioned as perpetrators. For many older women victims of IPV, experiences of (male) violence appear to be a biographical constant. Many of them experienced rigid upbringing by their parents and had experiences of violence in their childhood and as young adults. They were brought up to accept traditional gender roles and were taught to perceive marriage as a life-time commitment. There are many reasons for them for not leaving their violent partners, but the wish to change the situation and live free from violence is very strong. The study shows that age on the intersection with gender and generation specific factors plays a role on different levels. Among the after-effects of long-term abuse are severe health and psychological problems as well as low self-esteem and financial dependency in higher age. This may make it more difficult for older women to end the relationship than for younger women who have been in the relationship only for a shorter time. The historical and current societal contexts in the participating countries shape women’s experiences of IPV. Examples for country specific differences are the different importance of religion, of alcohol abuse, specific experiences of dictatorship and war, specific values and gender roles, the current economic situation and country specific urban – rural gaps. For all countries it became clear that in most cases IPV against older women is deeply rooted in inequality and power issues in the relation of men and women. In addition age related vulnerability, marginality and dependency worsen the situation for many women. But it also became apparent that IPV against older women may also be caused in mental illness of the partner. It is highly important to differentiate cases. For experts, working with older women victims of IPV often means facing bigger challenges than working with younger women in a similar situation. Older women victims of IPV, when they seek support, foremost seek information about their rights and someone with whom they can build a trustworthy relationship and share their feelings. Older women less often separate from their violent partners or press charges against them and they less often know about and make use of services. Specialists often see a special demand for support of older women which, according to them, is not yet met appropriately. Nevertheless, older women seek help - with relatives, neighbours, institutions against domestic violence, the police and other law enforcement agencies, doctors, and social services. Older women’s greatest needs if they are exposed to violence by their partners are health, finance and housing-related. Housing stands as one of the main problems older women have to deal with and as one of the strongest limitations to the intervention that support institutions can engage in. Most institutions deplore a lack of resources for being able to give appropriate support to older women as well as in some cases a lack of close cooperation with other institutions. In chapter VI we present recommendations in an overview and refer to the European dimension. Recommendations were derived from national recommendations and discussed at an international expert workshop. Details: Gottingen: Zoom – Gesellschaf t für prospekt ive Entw icklungen e.V.; Munster: Deutsche Hochschule der Polizei, 2010. 116p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 4, 2011 at: http://www.ipvow.org/images/stories/ipvow/reports/summary_report_final.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Europe URL: http://www.ipvow.org/images/stories/ipvow/reports/summary_report_final.pdf Shelf Number: 121235 Keywords: Domestic ViolenceElder Abuse (Europe)Elderly VictimsIntimate Partner Violence |
Author: Perista, Heloisa Title: Intimate Partner Violence Against Older Women. National Report Portugal Summary: Up to now only little is known about older women as victims of intimate partner violence in Europe. The issue often gets lost between the topics intimate partner violence, domestic violence and elder abuse – both in research and in service provision. Domestic violence services and research on the one hand generally do not have a special focus on older women and age-related issues, and elder (abuse) services and research with their focus on vulnerability and care issues on the other hand usually are not sensitive to gender-specific dimensions of violence in partnerships. An age specific approach and a gender specific approach to family violence seem to exclude each other for the most part. The Intimate Partner Violence against older Women study (IPVoW) – a European research project conducted by 7 partners in 6 countries - started its research activities with the aim to bridge this gap and come to a comprehensive age- and gender-sensitive view on the issue. This report explains the goals and methods of IPVoW, presents and discusses the findings of this multi-method study and gives directions for future research and support for older women victims of intimate partner violence. In this report the situation in Portugal is highlighted. Intimate partner violence against older women in Portugal has deserved little attention in politics, in the media, in scientific research, in support organisations for victims of violence, in older people support organisations and in society in general. However, on the other hand, this has becoming less and less a taboo in our society. The pertinence of this problem seems obvious, in a world where societies are increasingly getting old. Also, ageing in society has a feminine face, as do the victims of intimate partner violence. Our data review points out to the systemic invisibility of the phenomenon in Portugal. Intimate partner violence against older women is rarely a topic of concern in Portugal. This is evidenced by the available data collected and analysed in the report; we come across a rather partial portion of the overall picture (for instance, no data available from the health sector). The number of older women who have experienced violence in intimate relations all their lives is estimated to be somewhat considerable. Institutional data and research conducted in Portugal did not, until now, contribute to give an adequate visibility to this phenomenon. Data on reported criminalisation show us that, in 2008, 14.2% of domestic violence victims were aged 55 years and older55. In 2007 88% of older victims of crimes in general, reported to the National Republic Guard (GNR)56, were women (aged 65 and older); 40.3% of those crimes were domestic violence crimes followed by 31.3% of crimes of abuse. Data gathered by our research revealed that in a three-year period (2006-2009) 803 older women victim of intimate partner violence contacted the organisations that responded to our institutional survey. Although we must emphasise that our research never aimed to be a prevalence study, rather an in-depth case knowledge study, numbers gathered here are important to call attention upon intimate partner violence against older women. As it has been often publicly recognised by all relevant international, European and national institutions, violence against women is not a private or an individual matter. Neither is intimate partner violence against older women. Portugal has a specific history, determining social and cultural contexts that impose particular generational dimensions –women who are now old grew up and lived part of their adult lives under a political dictatorship, where women and men played contrasting social and family roles, their identities being severely gendered, and under a very strict social control. That regime dictated that motherhood and family life were women's primary roles. Women were somewhat confined in the private sphere of their homes. On the other hand, men’s main role was mainly the family breadwinning. This context set the path to the present situation of many Portuguese older women – they are extremely vulnerable to poverty, living in poor and deteriorated housing conditions, and disposing of a very low income. Our interviews show that about half of the women interviewed receive a monthly pension below €300. The Catholic Church also played an important role within the dictatorship. Women were married for life; it was regarded as their duty to maintain the relationship regardless what happen. And this was magnified by the State conferring no right to legal divorce under Salazar regime. Although over 30 years have passed since the end of the ‘Estado Novo’ regime, the gendered social and cultural identities and behaviours still play a role particularly in older people’s ways of living. In fact, cultural attitudes towards endless marriages and relationships prevail among older people but also among the society as a whole when looking at older couples. Nevertheless, in the lives of the older women we have interviewed violence begins early; most women said that the first episode of intimate partner violence took place within a year of their marital relationship. A significant number of the staff interviewed stated that most older women victims of intimate partner violence they’ve been in contact with had little or no intention to leave their homes; they said that what those women wish is to change their situation and live free from violence. The way this change could happen may vary (according to the professionals’ views) – relationship rupture / legal divorce, living in separated homes; maintenance of a common home but the relationship comes apart; continuing to live together within a more secure relationship (sometimes negotiated with the male partner as well). However, the older women we’ve interviewed did not wish to maintain their relationship; they wanted to break up. And from the group of seven, only two (the oldest ones) remain living in the same home as their perpetrator. In fact, when they decided to look for help and to make contact with a support organization they were quite convinced of what they wanted – to end up the relationship. More than the emotional ties (if existing), the housing and financial difficulties are the main bindings for remaining in a violent relationship. The violent relationships are framed, in old age, particularly by psychological violence and emotional abuse; these are, at present, the forms of violence that older women experienced more frequently. Nevertheless, interviewed older women also experience physical, financial and sexual violence. Also prevalent are intimate relationships characterized by adultery on the part of the male partner, often continuing into old age. Intimate partner violence is fundamentally a violence of control; control that can be maintained in many ways, especially after physical violence has been perpetrated. And particularly in old age fear and control are high, while physical injury is overall, low. We also found differences between urban and rural contexts. In rural areas the social control and tension over one’s role and way of life are stronger than in urban areas; also, in general, there is a wider lack of service provision and information. We must keep in mind that supporting services and political measures on preventing domestic violence and supporting victims of violence in Portugal are a relatively new achievement. This in itself may have inhibited women in the past from breaking up violent intimate relationships. At present, though, the lack of awareness about who might help and support them may also be inhibiting a significant number of older women experiencing intimate partner violence of ending up the cycle of violence. The influence and support given by other family members or adult children played a crucial role in the help seeking behaviour of the interviewed older women. The majority of them had, in the past, some kind of support from their family members. On the other hand, neighbours often played an important role in providing safety and immediate support. They were, somehow, protected by them, and sometimes encouraged to seek for help. Adult children often provided relevant support and, sometimes, were the ones who encouraged and accompanied their mothers to seek for formal help within support organisations. Formal help comes usually later and in a stage where the rupture of the relationship is key to the solution. That was even acknowledged by some professionals as regarding their own professional performance - ‘it’s easier to work with those who leave their partner than with those who remain living with the perpetrator” [Interviewee 22, Support Center for Victims of Domestic Violence, Psychology]. We could recognize different approaches towards intimate partner violence against older women in different (types of) services. This not only reflected cultural and professional backgrounds but also different skills and competences among the staff in institutions. The critical issue here is that sometimes this can, and in some reported cases it did, compromise the outcomes, acting as real barriers to an effective support. Professionals recognised that sometimes they thought that if ‘this woman withstood 30 or more years living in a violent relationship, why would she now leave when she (and her partner) is old?’. It is, in fact, the professional and personal answer to that question that can make the difference in the support to be given to older women. Also the lack of (human and financial) resources persisting today in support organisations to victims of violence is definitely one of the main barriers to older women victims of intimate partner violence finding adequate support. Older women who lived in long-lasting violent relationships may take a longer time to take a decision. Therefore longer support is often needed. The lack of resources within supporting organisations is thus turning into an obstacle adding to the other social and individual challenges and difficulties older women already face. Older women experiencing intimate partner violence have been significantly exposed to long-term violence, suffer and trauma; and those who do not contact supporting organizations are more likely to live with the abuser and to remain in violent relationships all their lives. The needs of older women victims of intimate partner violence are quite the same as their younger counterparts – safety, access to social and heath care, social and family ties, financial support and economical stability, a place to live in peace and security, among others. It is rather the way they access to and the required duration of services and support measures that differ. Older women, and particularly those who are over 75, are, in many cases, low educated, sometimes illiterate, having, therefore, less access to knowledge about their own (legal) rights. These circumstances can lead to one’s enclosure on violent relationship, not looking for help and support. And this is particularly evident as regards to housing and financial strains – older women lived all their lives in the family home, in what they regard as being part of their own heritage, and receive scarce old-age pensions. They do not see an immediate solution for their problems beyond keeping on living within a violent relationship. Therefore, giving information about possible alternatives to those older women could be one part of the solution as well as psychological support when needed. The women we’ve interviewed were part of the group that came forward with their situation and looked for help and support. When informed, they prove to be very pro-active in dealing with their own situation and in looking for secure life alternatives. In the final part of our report some recommendations proposed by the staff interviewed as well as by the experts who have participated in our national expert network are presented. Acknowledging that these recommendations are quite detailed, losing, somehow, the required strength, they have the capability to be clearly understood and put into practice by the respective professionals/institutions. Details: Lisbon: CESIS – Centro de Estudos para a Intervenção Social, 2010. 268p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 4, 2011 at: http://www.ipvow.org/images/stories/ipvow/reports/IPVOW_Portugal_english_final.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Portugal URL: http://www.ipvow.org/images/stories/ipvow/reports/IPVOW_Portugal_english_final.pdf Shelf Number: 121242 Keywords: Domestic ViolenceElder Abuse (Portugal)Elderly VictimsIntimate Partner Violence |
Author: Penhale, Bridget Title: Intimate Partner Violence Against Older Women. National Report - United Kingdom Summary: Intimate partner violence against older women (IPVoW) is a serious issue, which has received increasing attention over the past decade. However, the majority of this research has been conducted in the United States and there is a paucity of research investigating IPVoW in Europe. Research has largely neglected to investigate the issue of double marginality (age and gender) and the intersections between these forms of marginalization: research on elder abuse has focused on age and largely neglected considerations of gender, whilst research from within the sphere of domestic violence has not fully considered aspects relating to age. Therefore, the main aim of this national study was to investigate the extent and nature of the problem of partner violence against older women in the UK. The study formed part of a larger international research project which investigated the problem of IPVoW in six European countries which included: Austria; Germany; Hungary; Poland; and Portugal, as well as the UK, with the German Police University (DHPol) in Muenster German coordinating the international research project. All of the partner organizations contributed to the design of the research and employed the same methodological approaches to investigate the problem of IPVoW in their respective national contexts. The current research project had a multi-method and multi-perspective approach and consisted of five distinct research phases: 1. A review of existing literature was conducted to develop knowledge of the prevalence and incidence of intimate partner violence against older women. 2. An institutional survey was conducted to investigate key organizations’ experiences of providing support to older female victims of IPV. 3. Interviews with older female victims of IPV were carried out to explore older women’s experiences of partner violence and their help seeking behaviour. 4. Interviews with staff, that had experience of supporting older women and/or survivors of IPV, were also conducted to investigate their experiences and perspectives on this issue. 5. A national network of experts was convened, with representatives from national organizations (e.g. from the field of violence against women, law enforcement agencies and policy-makers). These networks supported data collection and contributed to the recommendations for further research/data collection, service development and policy. Chapter 2 of this national report appraises international research on IPVoW and provides a summary of research and policy relevant to this issue at the international level. Chapter 3 discusses the social and cultural issues relating to IPVoW and highlights key developments, which have occurred over recent decades that have been influential in how this problem is conceptualised and managed within UK society. Although the issue of elder abuse was first recognized in the UK in the mid 1970s, it was not until some 15 years later that the issue was fully iden- tified as a social problem in need of attention. The first policy guidance on the issue was produced in England in 1993 although this was somewhat limited in scope. Subsequent guidance was produced in England and Wales in 2000 and related to all adult service users who might be vulnerable to differing forms of abuse rather than specifically older people. The policy guidance in both nations is currently under review. Over the past decade the discrete nations of the UK have developed somewhat different approaches to the issue of abuse of vulnerable adults. Generally, the issue of IPVoW has not been considered separately to that of other adult service users of community and social care services, but is conceptualized as an element of the abuse of vulnerable adults (known as adults at risk in Scotland). Domestic violence has mostly been considered in relation to younger adult women and is dealt with differently to the issue of adult abuse. There has been rather limited attention to the issue of IPVoW within domestic violence services and provision until recent years. Chapter 4 presents the findings from the review of existing UK data. A series of information sources were reviewed including police and crime statistics and information provided by a range of support services. The data available on IPVoW was critically evaluated and suggestions regarding how some of the limitations of data collection methods could be overcome were presented. The review of existing data revealed that there is currently a shortage of accurate data relating to the prevalence, extent and nature of intimate partner violence against older women in the UK. The research also highlighted key areas, which warrant further investigation. It was suggested that in order to gain an understanding of the prevalence of IPVoW, methods which investigate the prevalence, as well as incidence, of partner violence against older women should be employed, routine collection of demographic information of service users by support services (older adult services, domestic violence agencies and adult safeguarding/protection teams) is required and women aged over 59 years should be included within the self completion module of British Crime Survey on domestic abuse. It is also proposed that future research needs to explore the perspectives and experiences of those older female victims of partner violence who have not engaged with support services. Chapter 5 describes the findings from the national institutional survey. Informa- tion obtained from the institutional survey revealed information on the extent to which older women have been engaging with support services for older people and/or services for victims of domestic violence in the past 4 years. Thus the survey was a first step in exploring the extent of case knowledge about IPVoW within relevant agencies; coupled with the interviews held with professionals about their knowledge and understanding of such situations and experiences of working in this field, a greater depth of information and understanding about the issue and about service responses to older women who experience IPVoW has been obtained. The survey also collected information on the types of support provided to older female victims of partner violence by the different agencies. The survey was sent out in the autumn of 2009, and unfortunately, only obtained a low response rate (19%). Some of the reasons for this low rate are discussed in the chapter, together with other limitations of this element of the study. Just under half of the respondents (46%) were from local authority Social Services and over one third (35%) were from domestic violence agencies. Of the responding agencies, 85% reported that they had knowledge of cases of IPV and older women in the relevant time period (2006-2009). Most of the respondents provided information about cases of IPVoW that their organization had been involved with between 2006 and 2008, some were also able to provide information pertaining to 2009. Almost three-quarters of responding agencies (73%) provided information covering the entire period of 2006-2009. Apart from one national organization, which reported relatively high numbers of cases known to them, most agencies reported modest numbers of cases that had been known to them, with a range between 0 and 331 cases of women over 60 years who had experienced IPV during 2006-2008 and a range between 0 and 121 such cases relating to the first nine months of 2009. The majority of cases known to agencies during this period concerned women in the age range of 60-74 years. Whilst 96% of responding agencies reported that they had knowledge of cases relating to older women aged between 60 and 74 years during the time period, only 82% of agencies indicated such knowledge about cases relating to older women who were older than 75 years. Chapters 6 and 7 describe findings from the series of interviews, which were conducted with 10 women who had experienced IPV and 35 professionals who had provided support to older women/survivors of domestic abuse. Victims’ and professionals’ experiences and perspectives relating to partner violence against older women were explored. One of the main findings from these series of interviews was that partner violence does not appear to decrease or stop as women enter into ‘older age’. Interestingly, however, in some cases the type of violence women were subjected to did change. Situations were described where perpetrators who were no longer capable of physical violence (e.g. due to physical frailty) resorted to using alternative methods of abuse (e.g. increased psychological abuse). Women felt that it was fear that had often caused them the greatest difficulties when it came to leaving their violent relationship, considering leaving the situation or accessing help for the violence they had experienced. Fear of other people’s reactions, fear that the violence would get worse if they tried to leave/sought help and fear they would not be able to support themselves financially were all significant barriers to leaving and even help seeking in more general terms. The findings seemed to suggest that a proportion of older women may be at an increased vulnerability because of the dependence on their partners for financial security and/or their health care needs (and that in some situations a double dependency may occur, which may further heighten risk). Both the staff and women interviewed felt that there was limited information available to older female victims of IPV regarding the help and support which is available to older women who have experienced partner violence. One of the main recommendations which emerged from the interviews with the female victims of IPV and the support service professionals, was that organizations (domestic violence and older adult services) need to raise older women’s awareness about the services and support they can offer for older female victims of intimate partner violence. This requires the adjustment of terminology used in publicity / campaigns so that it is more widely understood by this group of women (e.g. avoidance of terms such as ‘domestic violence’). Materials need to be developed in the languages that are used in local communities so that these campaigns are both inclusive and effective. It was also proposed that staff from services, which have regular contact with older women (e.g. health services, domiciliary care providers, housing services) should have training in the recognition, identification and management of intimate partner violence in older people. Another key recommendation was that there needs to be increased collaboration between specialist domestic violence agencies and organizations that provide support for older people/vulnerable adults, including relevant local authority teams, so that the sharing of experiences and knowledge transfer can be established, to the benefit of all (including most centrally older women who experience IPVoW. It was argued, by women and staff alike, that the provision of a variety of mobile interventions (e.g. floating support, support groups, ‘buddying’ schemes) and improved emergency accommodation, which is appropriate and accessible for older women, is also essential. An additional recommendation was that older women need to be able to access financial support if they choose to leave a violent relationship. It was suggested that financial support needs to be available for older women who are dependent on their abusive partners for financial security, and that this should include access to emergency financial support in cases of urgent need. In cases where women are not eligible for community care grants or housing benefits (because of savings or pensions) these women should be eligible for alternative sources of financial support, this may be particularly important in cases where women do not have access to their financial assets. Chapter 8 details how a national network of interested individuals and organizations was convened over the course of the two-year research study. A detailed account of how the national network contributed to the current research project and helped develop the final series of recommendations is outlined. Finally, chapter 9 discusses the findings from all of the different phases of the research study and presents the comprehensive list of recommendations relating to future research, policy and practice. Whilst it is recognised that some of the recommendations are specific to older female victims of IPV it is proposed that a number of these recommendations would benefit all victims of domestic violence and/or vulnerable older women. It is suggested that the recommendations made within this national report need to be given due attention by all those who are involved with this issue at policy, research or service levels so that older women are not left to suffer from partner violence in silence and that their voices may be heard. Details: Sheffield, UK: School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Sheffield, 2010. 243p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 4, 2011 at: http://www.ipvow.org/images/stories/ipvow/reports/IPVoW_UK_englisch_final.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.ipvow.org/images/stories/ipvow/reports/IPVoW_UK_englisch_final.pdf Shelf Number: 121243 Keywords: Domestic ViolenceElder Abuse (U.K.)Elderly VictimsIntimate Partner ViolenceVictim Services |
Author: Toth, Olga Title: Initimate Partner Violence Against Older Women. National Report - Hungary Summary: Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) committed against elderly women has been an unexplored area in Hungary so far, thus the results of the project are stop-gap. - Aims and objectives of the research: gathering information on IPV against elderly women as a social phenomenon, becoming familiar with the how much the institutions and experts know about the cases and what their attitudes are, revealing the experiences of the victims, and above all, directing public attention to the phenomenon. - In Hungary research on intimate partner violence began in late 1990s. There are only comparatively few data of this topic, and the researches are usually not built upon one another. The specific problems of elderly women do not really receive great priority in the researches either. - The system of institutions dealing with the victims of IPV is less developed than in the Western countries, and the institutions themselves or the preparedness of the experts cannot be characterized as adequate either. - The social attitude to the topic is rather rejecting than accepting, its importance is not recognized. Institutional knowledge about cases of intimate partner violence against older women was a crucial component of research in the frame of the present study. Professionals working with older victims can provide information on phenomena of IPV in old age as well as on help-seeking behavior of older women, services offered, service usage, and case outcome. Since the study did not aim at representative data on prevalence and incidence but had its focus on older female victims’ needs, help-seeking and service usage, institutions and professionals within these institutions were a primary source of information. It has been again proved what other sociological research studies have demonstrated that use of self-completion questionnaires in Hungary is not expedient. Completing a questionnaire independently causes difficulties to and by all means evokes antipathy in many people. Therefore, if a similar kind of investigation is made in the future, it must be prepared more profoundly, possibly by involving the supervisory authorities of institutions. We distributed 125 short and 224 long questionnaires; the return rate was 23%. In the course of sampling we tried to involve a wide range of institutions (the police, public prosecutor’s offices, crisis centres, family helpers, help lines, institutions looking after and caring for the elderly, etc.). It was also due to low degree of sensitivity to the topic that only one-fourth of questionnaires sent out were returned. When we asked the institutions that had not returned the questionnaire for the second time to fill in at least the opinion questions and the questions regarding the institution even if they had no cases, we were often given the reply orally that they considered the topic uninteresting, unimportant. For this reason they feel the completion of the questionnaire is a kind of waste of time. In better cases, they underlined another form of violence from their practice as a more important subject more suitable for research (e.g. violence of elderly persons by their children, grandchildren). In worse cases, they judged the entire topic of violence within the family unimportant. The use of two kinds of questionnaires has brought no benefit to us. The short questionnaire did not motivate any better to complete it. It occurred that an institution asked for a long questionnaire but eventually did not complete it. The lesson learned from this study is that in similar researches in the future we must use one kind of questionnaire. Statistical data are available in aggregate form and many institutions have no clear knowledge about the most important socio-demographic features of victims and perpetrators. It means that institutions have no official data but estimation or we have obtained rather different data regarding the number of elderly female IPV victims. In addition to the aggregating data, the family relation of the perpetrator with the victim is the most properly documented question. Based on the data available to us, the institutions – where it is documented – met mostly with cases where physical-spiritual-financial violence goes together. The overall majority of violence was one-sided, multiply, long-lasting and starting before the age of 60. The perpetrator is generally the spouse or divorced spouse living together with the victim if the parties do not manage to move apart. We have received little information as to how the institutions got into contact with victims and what services they provided for them. It was mostly domestic violence service type institutions that gave the more detailed data about victims and services. These organizations provided several kinds of services to victims: primarily psycho-social support, legal advice and crisis intervention. Due to low-key information supplied on services, it would be difficult to make proposals on improving them. Yet, we can state that the experts of domestic violence organizations are the most prepared and the most suitable for providing help; therefore, improvement of these institutions and increasing the number of experts would be of key importance. Regarding the improvement of services, it is expedient for Hungary to use the experience of the other countries that take part in the project. The group that considers the topic less important constituted a minority, yet appeared among the respondents (27.8 %). Presumably, this view is more widely held among those who have not returned the questionnaire. A part of the experts assert that relationships of the elderly do not contain any element of violence; others consider the abusive role of other family members more important. However we think that sending out questionnaires and processing responses have brought some results. The most important is the fact that experts’ attention has been driven to this issue. It can be hoped that the institutions that have so far not dealt with this issue at all will pay somewhat more attention to this topic in the future. Details: Muenster, Germany: German Police University and Deutsche Hochschule der Polizei, 2010. 150p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 4, 2011 at: http://www.ipvow.org/images/stories/ipvow/reports/IPVoW_Hungary_English_final.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Hungary URL: http://www.ipvow.org/images/stories/ipvow/reports/IPVoW_Hungary_English_final.pdf Shelf Number: 121244 Keywords: Domestic ViolenceDomestic Violence (Hungary)Elder AbuseElderly VictimsIntimate Partner ViolenceVictim Services |
Author: Jackson, Shelly L. Title: Financial Abuse of Elderly People vs. Other Forms of Elder Abuse: Assessing Their Dynamics, Risk Factors, and Society’s Response Summary: Financial exploitation of elderly people is expected to proliferate over the next decade as the elderly population continues to grow rapidly. This study examined financial exploitation of elderly people compared to other forms of elder maltreatment (physical abuse, neglect, and hybrid, i.e., financial exploitation and physical abuse and/or neglect) that occurred in a domestic setting. Using semi-structured interviews, 71 adult protective services (APS) caseworkers in Virginia and their elder client were interviewed separately about incidents of maltreatment that came to the attention of APS. Elderly participants were on average 76 years of age, 83% Caucasian, 76% female, and 84% were living in their own home. Interviews lasting between one and three hours covered a number of domains such as case characteristics, consequences, risk factors associated with the elderly victims and their perpetrators, the nature of the interactions between them, the APS investigation, the criminal justice response, and outcomes. In addition, data derived from the Adult Services Adult Protective Services (ASAPS) database managed by the Virginia Department of Social Services were used to in logistic regressions. Financial exploitation differed from other forms of elder maltreatment, specifically, physical abuse, neglect by other, and hybrid financial exploitation, across a number of important domains. Furthermore, financial exploitation is underreported, underinvestigated and underprosecuted. However, important differences existed among all four forms of elder abuse. An exploration of the dynamics of elder abuse facilitated a greater understanding of the different forms of elder abuse under investigation. Results further revealed discrepancies between APS caseworkers’ and elderly persons’ perceptions of the causes of the elder’s abuse. Furthermore, when differences did persist to the close of the case, the abuse was significantly less likely to cease. These findings indicate the critical need to separate theoretically and practically different types of elder maltreatment. Additionally, critical to increasing our understanding of elder maltreatment is the need to take into consideration perpetrators when examining, predicting, and explaining elder maltreatment and related interventions. An exclusive focus on elderly people will continue to undermine effective interventions. Implications for theory, research, policy, and intervention are discussed. Details: Final Report to the U.S. National Institute of Justice, 2010. 608p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 20, 2011 at: http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/233613.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/233613.pdf Shelf Number: 121410 Keywords: Domestic ViolenceElder AbuseElderly VictimsFinancial Crimes |
Author: Sethi, Dinesh Title: European Report on Preventing Elder Maltreatment Summary: Elder maltreatment is pervasive in all countries in the WHO European Region, and estimates suggest that at least 4 million people in the Region experience elder maltreatment in any one year. Most countries in the Region have an ageing population, and one third of the population is forecast to be 60 years and older in 2050, putting more people at risk of elder maltreatment. Elder maltreatment has far-reaching consequences for the mental and physical well-being of tens of millions of older people, and if left unchecked will result in their premature death. Estimates suggest that about 2500 older people may lose their lives annually from elder maltreatment. The report highlights the numerous biological, social, cultural, economic and environmental factors that interact to influence the risk and protective factors of being a victim or perpetrator of elder maltreatment. There is some evidence of effectiveness, and examples include psychological programmes for perpetrators and programmes designed to change attitudes towards older people, improve the mental health of caregivers and, in earlier life, to promote nurturing relationships and social skills learning. The evidence base needs to be strengthened, but much can be done by implementing interventions using an evaluative framework. Prevention and social justice for older people can only be achieved by mainstreaming this response into health and social policy. Surveys show that the public and policy-makers are increasingly concerned about the problem, and the policy response needs to be strengthened to meet this demand. Details: Copenhagen: World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, 2011. 100p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 26, 2011 at: http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/144676/e95110.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Europe URL: http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/144676/e95110.pdf Shelf Number: 122167 Keywords: Elder Abuse (Europe)Elderly Victims |
Author: Social Care Institute for Excellence: City of London Police Title: Assessment: Financial Crime Against Vulnerable Adults Summary: The report highlights the current and potential future threats to vulnerable adults in relation to economic crime. It covers the wide spectrum of financial abuse and exploitation against vulnerable people by family members, care workers and unscrupulous individuals within our society. Economic crime can have a significant impact on the victim and this assessment articulates the devastation it can cause for individuals. The work of the professionals who work to protect vulnerable people must not be overlooked. This assessment seeks to highlight the true scale of this issue, to identify the existing gaps in financial safeguarding and to ascertain the work required to improve safeguarding practice. The assessment aims to raise awareness of the threat to vulnerable adults and to consider ways to improve safeguarding arrangements. Details: London: Social Care Institute for Excellence, 2011. 72p. Source: Internet Resource: SCIE Report No. 49; Accessed January 17, 2012 at: http://www.met.police.uk/fraudalert/docs/financial_crime_against_vulnerable_adults.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.met.police.uk/fraudalert/docs/financial_crime_against_vulnerable_adults.pdf Shelf Number: 123631 Keywords: Elderly VictimsFinancial Crimes (U.K.)Financial Crimes Against the ElderlyFinancial Exploitation |
Author: Blanton, Kimberly Title: The Rise of Financial Fraud Summary: Individuals save for decades to ensure that they will have financial security in retirement. That security can be threatened or eliminated virtually overnight if an individual who is in or near retirement becomes the victim of a financial fraud, such as a Ponzi scheme or sham investment in high-yield securities. Fueled by the Internet, the incidence of financial fraud is on the rise. Law enforcement officials and fraud experts expect the trend to continue or accelerate as aging baby boomers increasingly become targets. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Americans in 2011 submitted more than 1.5 million complaints about financial and other fraud – up 62 percent in just three years. But these data do not fully represent fraud’s pervasiveness, because researchers say that it often goes unreported to the authorities. Identifying the patterns of fraud can be helpful because scams and the con men who perpetrate them, once identified, are more easily recognized by a potential victim. This brief discusses fraud trends and describes some of the patterns. The first section documents the surge in fraud. The second section identifies what is driving this increase. The third section explains why seniors are often targets of fraud. The fourth section defines four major categories of financial-product fraud. The fifth section reports three of the many disguises used by scammers to persuade their targets to purchase investments or financial products. The conclusion is that all Americans, especially older Americans, should learn how to recognize the signs of fraud. Details: Chestnut Hill, MA: Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, 2011. 8p. Source: Brief IB No. 12-5: Internet Resource: Accessed March 9, 2012 at http://crr.bc.edu/images/stories/Briefs/IB_12-5.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://crr.bc.edu/images/stories/Briefs/IB_12-5.pdf Shelf Number: 124410 Keywords: Elderly VictimsFinancial FraudInsurance Fraud |
Author: Blanton, Kimberly Title: The Rise of Financial Fraud: Scams Never Change but Disguises Do Summary: Americans submitted nearly 1.1 million complaints about financial and other fraud in 2010 – a 35 percent increase in just three years. But scammers may be difficult to recognize, because they constantly alter their disguises. A primary goal of this report is to provide insight into the disguises con men use to perpetrate their age-old fraud schemes and to recruit their potential targets, who may be retirees, members of the military, college students, the unemployed, homebuyers, investors, low-income families, among others. Some con men, for example, position themselves as a sort of rescue squad, swooping in during a natural or man-made disaster and offering a product or business opportunity to ameliorate the crisis – and bring untold wealth to investors. Others infiltrate churches where they claim to be doing God’s work. Church-based scams are the most common form of “affinity fraud,” which occurs when con men exploit an interest shared by many potential victims, whether a religious belief or country club membership. There are affinity scams against Iranian-Americans, Cubans in Miami, Spanish speakers, Haitian immigrants, and Muslims, to name a few. Fraudulent subprime mortgage brokers who were immigrants made loans to homeowners who came from the home country and spoke the same language. Cloaked in new skins, con men appeal to an individuals’ weak spot: a desperate shortage of money before payday, a need to earn more than the yield on their certificate of deposit, a need for cash to pay medical bills. But awareness of these disguises can prevent fraud by helping individuals recognize and steer clear of it. Details: Chestnut Hill, MA: Financial Security Project at Boston College, 2012. 12p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 9, 2012 at http://fsp.bc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Scams-RFTF.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://fsp.bc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Scams-RFTF.pdf Shelf Number: 124411 Keywords: Elderly VictimsFinancial FraudInsurance Fraud |
Author: Smith, Erica Title: Violent Crime against the Elderly Reported by Law Enforcement in Michigan, 2005-2009 Summary: This report presents statistics about violent victimization of persons age 65 or older reported by law enforcement agencies into the FBI's National Incident Based Reporting System from 2005 to 2009. The report describes characteristics of known violent victimizations perpetrated against the elderly in Michigan over the 5-year period, including location and time of day the violence occurred, involvement of weapons, victim-offender relationships, and the percentage of reported violent victimizations of the elderly that resulted in an arrest. It also compares patterns of elder victimization with patterns of victimization of younger persons. Population-based rates of violent victimization are also presented. Highlights include the following: Half (49.5%) of violent victimizations of the elderly known to law enforcement in Michigan involved serious violence— murder, rape, sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, and kidnapping. More than a third of violent victimizations of elderly women (37.8%) involved the victim's child or grandchild, compared to less than a quarter of victimizations of elderly men (22.5%). The rate of reported violence against elderly men (247.7 per 100,000 males age 65 or older) was 1.4 times higher than the rate for elderly women (172.9 per 100,000 women age 65 or older). Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2012. 16p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 7, 2012 at: http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/pub/pdf/vcerlem0509.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/pub/pdf/vcerlem0509.pdf Shelf Number: 125494 Keywords: Elder Abuse (Michigan)Elderly VictimsVictimization Surveys |
Author: Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Crime Statistics Unit Title: Crimes Against the Elderly Report: 2009-2011 Summary: Each year the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation releases annual reports of crimes reported by law enforcement agencies to the Tennessee Incident Based Reporting System (TIBRS) program in five different reports. The TIBRS data contains a wide range of incident level information including victim and offender demographics. In addition to the usual annual reports, the Crime Statistics Unit focused on a data subset of older victims of crime for the last three years of reported data. According to the 2010 United States Census, the nation's population is growing including America's elderly population. The data for the Tennessee Census shows the same trends. Unfortunately, even with various groups advocating for them and state law specifically punishing those who victimize them, the number of elderly crime victims has grown over the past three years. Their sometimes reduced mobility and trust of others makes them easy prey for offenders. We believe looking at the data reported to TIBRS for older crime victims will be beneficial for policy makers since the U.S. Census data indicates that this population is growing. Details: Nashville, TN: Crime Statistics Unit, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, 2012. 14p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 15, 2012 at http://www.tbi.tn.gov/tn_crime_stats/documents/CrimesAgainstElderlyReport2009_2011.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://www.tbi.tn.gov/tn_crime_stats/documents/CrimesAgainstElderlyReport2009_2011.pdf Shelf Number: 126740 Keywords: Crime StatisticsDemographic TrendsElder AbuseElderly VictimsElderly Victims of Crime |
Author: U.S. Government Accountability Office Title: Elder Justice: National Strategy Needed to Effectively Combat Elder Financial Exploitation Summary: Elder financial exploitation is the illegal or improper use of an older adult’s funds or property. It has been described as an epidemic with society-wide repercussions. While combating elder financial exploitation is largely the responsibility of state and local social service, criminal justice, and consumer protection agencies, the federal government has a role to play in this area as well. GAO was asked to review issues related to elder financial exploitation. This report describes the challenges states face in (1) preventing and (2) responding to elder financial exploitation, as well as the actions some federal agencies have taken to help states address these challenges. To obtain this information, GAO interviewed state and local social service, criminal justice, and consumer protection officials in California, Illinois, New York, and Pennsylvania—states with large elderly populations; officials in seven federal agencies; and various elder abuse experts. GAO also analyzed federal strategic plans and other documents and reviewed relevant research, federal laws and regulations, and state laws. What GAO Recommends Federal agencies should develop a written national strategy addressing challenges GAO identified, facilitate case investigation and prosecution, and improve data, among other things. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Department of Health and Human Services supported GAO’s recommendations. FTC did not believe it is necessary to examine the feasibility of requiring victim’s age in complaints. GAO maintains the importance of its recommendation. Details: Washington, DC: GAO, 2012. 80p. Source: Internet Resource: GAO-13-110: Accessed November 20, 2012 at: http://www.gao.gov/assets/660/650074.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://www.gao.gov/assets/660/650074.pdf Shelf Number: 126945 Keywords: Confidence GameCrimes Against the ElderlyElder AbuseElderly VictimsFinancial CrimesFinancial Fraud |
Author: Castle, Nicholas Title: An Examination of Resident Abuse in Assisted Living Facilities Summary: Introduction. An estimated 39,100 Assisted Living (AL) settings exist in the U.S., with about 971,900 beds, providing services to 733,300 persons every day. Elders living in AL settings may be particularly vulnerable to abuse because many suffer from cognitive impairment, behavioral abnormalities, or physical limitations – factors that have been reported as risk factors associated with abuse. In this research, perceptions of abuse in AL coming from a large sample of Direct Care Workers (DCWs) and administrators are examined. Methods. Information on abuse came from two sources, administrators and DCWs in AL. A random sample of eligible AL settings (N=1,500) was selected from all 50 states. To obtain information administrators were asked if they were willing to complete the questionnaire. An incentive gift card was used ($25). The administrator questionnaires were anonymous. Second, administrators were asked if they would be willing to distribute the questionnaire to DCWs. The DCWquestionnaires were also anonymous. Results. The applied psychometric statistics of the DCWs questionnaire were favorable. In general, the percent of missing responses was low averaging about 1%. Of the 15,500 DCW questionnaires distributed, a total of 12,555 returned the questionnaire. This gave a response rate of 81%. For the DCWs perceptions of abuse the highest percent was for staff arguing with a resident (9.65%). For the DCWs perceptions of resident-to-resident abuse, the highest percent was for arguing with another resident (12.83%) and the lowest percent was for digital penetration (0.02%). Of the 1,500 AL administrator questionnaires distributed a total of 1,376 were returned. This gave a response rate of 84%. For the administrators perceptions of abuse the findings for “Occurred Often (during the past 3 months)” are the highest for destroying things belonging to a resident (0.80%). Some areas associated with abuse in multivariate analyses include external, organizational, and internal factors (especially lower staffing levels). Very few associations with demographic characteristics of DCWs were associated with abuse. Resident characteristics associated with high levels of abuse include residents with dementia and with physical limitations. Administrator characteristics associated with high rates of abuse include shorter tenure and lower education level. Conclusion. Overall, we find resident abuse by staff to be relatively uncommon. However, in some areas (such as humiliating remarks) substantial improvements in the rates could be made. With respect to resident-resident abuse we find this to be more common than staff abuse. In both cases (staff abuse and resident-to-resident abuse) verbal abuse and psychological abuse were reported most often. Details: Unpublished report to the U.S. National Institute of Justice, 2013. 45p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 2, 2013 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/241611.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/241611.pdf Shelf Number: 128190 Keywords: Elder AbuseElderly VictimsNursing Facilities |
Author: Jackson, Shelly L. Title: Understanding Elder Abuse: New Directions for Developing Theories of Elder Abuse Occurring in Domestic Settings Summary: As of 2010, 13% of the population was age 65 and older, with this group expected to comprise 19.3% of the population by 2030. Elder abuse among this population is both a pervasive problem and a growing concern. Given that the vast majority (96.9%) of older Americans are residing in domestic settings, it is not surprising that most (89.3%) elder abuse reported to Adult Protective Services (APS) occurs in domestic settings. And yet, although greater recognition of the occurrence of elder abuse is beginning to emerge, the field has generated few theory-based explanations of what causes elder abuse and how best to respond to it. This article reports the findings of two studies funded by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) in an effort to begin to fill this void, and attempts to spur the critique of existing theories and facilitate the development of new theories that will enhance our understanding of elder abuse. In doing so, it addresses a subset of the various types of elder abuse, namely, physical abuse, neglect, "pure" financial exploitation, and "hybrid" financial exploitation. This article concludes that the response to elder maltreatment needs to change from a relatively fragmented approach unguided by theory to one that embraces a systematic approach drawn from a greater understanding of the underlying phenomenon. Further, these theories should take into account the characteristics of both the elderly victims and the abusive individuals, including their cognitive statuses, the nature of their relationships, the settings in which the abuse occurs, the type of abuse involved, and protective factors; in general, the theories should employ a more dynamic approach. Researchers should then test the resulting constructs, including the tenets presented in this article, and help build a foundation that will both deepen our understanding of elder maltreatment and form a basis for crafting more effective interventions to increase the safety and well-being of elderly people. Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs National Institute of Justice, 2013. 40p. Source: Internet Resource: Research in Brief, National Institute of Justice: Accessed June 28, 2013 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/241731.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/241731.pdf Shelf Number: 129193 Keywords: Elder Abuse and Neglect (U.S.)Elderly VictimsFinancial Exploitation |
Author: U.S. Government Accountability Office Title: Elder Justice: More Federal Coordination and Public Awareness Needed Summary: As the percentage of older adults in the population increases, the number of older adults at risk of abuse also is growing. At the same time, constraints on public funds may limit assistance to the growing population of older adults in need. GAO was asked to review elder justice program issues. This report addresses: (1) the extent to which there is fragmentation, overlap, or duplication across the federal grant programs that support elder justice; (2) the extent to which federal programs coordinate their efforts and monitor elder justice outcomes; and (3) how state aging agencies, area agencies on aging, and service providers deliver federal elder justice services and what challenges, if any, they face in doing so. GAO reviewed relevant federal laws and regulations, identified federal elder justice programs, surveyed federal officials about program elements, reviewed program documentation, and visited agencies responsible for elder justice in Illinois, Virginia and Arizona. GAO selected states based on the percentage of the elderly in the state population, geographic dispersion, and percentage of the state's Older American Act funds devoted to elder care. GAO recommends that HHS take the lead in identifying common objectives and outcomes for the federal elder justice effort and that HHS and Justice develop a national elder justice public awareness campaign. HHS concurred and Justice did not comment. Details: Washington, DC: GAO, 2013. 60p. Source: Internet Resource: GAO-13-498: Accessed July 13, 2013 at: http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-13-498 Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-13-498 Shelf Number: 129394 Keywords: Crimes Against the ElderlyElder Abuse (U.S.)Elderly VictimsFinancial CrimesFinancial Exploitation |
Author: London Assembly. Police and Crime Committee Title: Neglect, Abuse and Violence Against Older Women Summary: The objective of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA) was the elimination of all forms of neglect, abuse and violence against older persons (MIPAA, 2002). In addition, it was acknowledged clearly in the Plan of Action that "Older women face greater risk of physical and psychological abuse due to discriminatory societal attitudes and the nonrealization of the human rights of women. Some harmful traditional practices and customs result in abuse and violence directed at older women, often exacerbated by poverty and lack of access to legal protection." (para. 108). Since the adoption of the Madrid Plan of Action, the problem of abuse against older persons, in all its forms, has grown. The results of the second review and appraisal of the Madrid Plan of Action in 2012 showed clearly that neglect, abuse and violence against older persons was acknowledged as a major policy issue in all regions, regardless of level of development.1 The General Assembly pronounced 15 June as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day in 2012. Discussion of legislation on human rights protection against neglect, abuse and violence has become a main focus of the ongoing discussions of the General Assembly Open-ended Working Group on Ageing. However, despite the evidence from available data that older women are at greater risk of abuse and violence, older women have not been mainstreamed into ongoing research and discussion on violence against women. For instance, the campaign by UN Women on Ending Violence Against Women has made no mention of older women as a vulnerable group. Therefore, the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), together with its focal point on ageing in the Division for Social Policy and Development (DSPD), began a discussion based on current research, available data and the terminology used in academic circles to describe and classify violence and abuse against older women. The majority of academic research and discourse has been conducted in developed countries, and agreement on terminology and meanings has-by no means-been clear or agreed. This lack of agreed definitions was one of the problems that explained the lack of visibility of older women in the discourse surrounding the issue of violence and abuse. The purpose of the present publication is to provide an overview of the current state of knowledge about the abuse of older women. The main forms or categories of abuse against older women are discussed, particularly in relation to differing definitions of neglect, abuse and violence against women and older adults. Prevalence rates from studies using different definitions and incorporating different forms of abuse can vary greatly, depending on whether the study focuses on intimate partner violence, older adult abuse or, specifically, on the abuse of older adults in protective settings. Prevalence rates are also influenced by whether the data are based on one-year, five-year or lifetime cumulative time frames, and which old-age cohorts are included in the study samples. The publication discusses the challenges that this has presented to researchers. Risk factors identified through prevalence and other studies include age and gender, as well as care-dependency in cases of neglect. The publication provides a summary of selected study findings on the health consequences of abuse and violence against older women, as well as sources of data collection and some of the challenges that this presents to researchers. The publication provides an overview of preventive measures for addressing the issue, presenting the findings of evaluations on their effectiveness, where available. It gives an overview of main approaches to addressing the abuse of older women, and key interventions - including policies and programmes for the protection of older women victims of abuse - along with outcomes, where evaluations have been completed. Details: New York: United Nations, 2013. 65p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 13, 2014 at: http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/documents/ageing/neglect-abuse-violence-older-women.pdf Year: 2013 Country: International URL: http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/documents/ageing/neglect-abuse-violence-older-women.pdf Shelf Number: 131905 Keywords: Elder AbuseElderly VictimsViolence Against Women |
Author: Holtfreter, Kristy Title: Final Report: Financial Exploitation of the Elderly in a Consumer Context Summary: National studies document that financial exploitation (e.g., fraud victimization) of elderly consumers has become an increasingly prominent problem, one likely to assume greater urgency as larger proportions of Americans enter the ranks of the elderly. Indeed, all 50 states have enacted elder abuse statutes, many of which focus on addressing financial exploitation of the elderly. Yet, remarkably little is known about the (1) true prevalence of elderly fraud victimization, save that it appears to be greatly underreported, (2) the risk and protective factors, other than physical limitations, associated with such victimization, or (3) what is effective in reducing it. These significant gaps make it difficult to develop effective policies. Which types of frauds are most common, and what are risk factors should be targeted in reducing them? Compared to the national average, the population of citizens age 60 and older is significantly higher in the states of Arizona and Florida. These population characteristics, coupled with current crime prevention efforts by both states' Attorneys General, point to a unique opportunity to shed light on financial exploitation and, more pointedly, to provide guidance to these and other states on how they might best focus their efforts to reduce such victimization. To this end, we propose a timely and cost-effective, multi-method study to address these important research and policy gaps. The study's goals are to provide policymakers, practitioners, and researchers with a greater, empirically-based understanding of the distribution and causes of, as well as solutions to financial exploitation of the elderly in a consumer context. The objectives are: (1) To determine the nature, incidence, and prevalence of fraud victimization among elderly consumers in Arizona and Florida; (2) To identify risk and protective factors associated with fraud victimization in this population; and (3) To evaluate the effectiveness of service providers, including assessment of the elderly population's awareness of state based programs, barriers to and facilitators of program use, and impacts on victimization. This 2-year study includes a telephone survey of 1,000 Arizonians and 1,000 Floridians over the age of 60, as well as interviews with elder service providers. We will examine (1) indicators of the nature and prevalence of financial exploitation, including identification of the victim offender relationship and dollar amount lost; (2) risk and protective factors (e.g., financial risk-taking, trust propensity, lifestyle characteristics, routine consumer activities, and personal characteristics); and (3) respondents awareness and use of state Attorney General services, including assessment of potential barriers to and facilitators of program use, as well as reporting behavior to law enforcement and perceptions of law enforcement responsiveness. The research team will conduct descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate analyses. Particular emphasis will be given to identifying theoretically-informed variables that predict fraud victimization and reporting behavior. Regression analyses will allow us to identify risk and protective factors that increase or decrease the likelihood of fraud victimization and reporting. Data obtained from semi-structured interviews with service provider staff will help identify barriers to and facilitators of program success. Details: Final Report to the U.S. National Institute of Justice, 2014. 186p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 3, 2014 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/245388.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/245388.pdf Shelf Number: 132217 Keywords: Consumer FraudElderly VictimsFinancial CrimesFinancial Exploitation |
Author: Clare, Mike Title: Examination of the Extent of Elder Abuse in Western Australia. A Qualitative and Quantitative Investigation of Existing Agency Policy, Service Responses and Recorded Data Summary: Elder abuse is a significant issue for the Western Australian community, as the population is ageing and the percentage of people over age 65 is increasing exponentially. This research examines the extent of elder abuse in Western Australia, synthesizing qualitative and quantitative information from organisations working with elder abuse in order to provide a coherent, consistent estimate of the scope of elder abuse in Western Australia and the capacity of agencies to address this issue. Funding for this research was received through a grant application made by Advocare Inc. to LotteryWest, and researchers from the Crime Research Centre at the University of Western Australia were employed to conduct the research. Fourteen interviews were conducted with professionals from 10 organisations that respond to elder abuse in Western Australia. These included a total of 26 people, as some wished to be interviewed jointly. Eight of the organisations form part of the Alliance for the Prevention of Elder Abuse: WA (APEA: WA); the other two organisations were the Older Person‟s Rights Service and the State Administration Tribunal, which also deal with elder abuse cases. Where possible, organisations also provided de-identified quantitative data in order to give insight into the volume and variety of elder abuse that each agency encounters. Two focus groups were also conducted with representatives from a variety of non-APEA: WA agencies that may come across elder abuse in their work; one comprised of three participants, the other of seven. Data analysis uncovered the following themes and issues: - There are problems with the definition of elder abuse that require further exploration. Different definitions are used nationally, internationally, and between the different APEA: WA organisations. Some include paid carers and people providing services, e.g. financial advisers. Others are narrowly focused, depending on an agency's service mandate and funding arrangements. The definition of "elder" is also contested, with different definitions based on different age limits. There are also questions raised about how elder abuse should be perceived and contextualised - should it be seen as a crime? As a private family issue? Also, where does domestic violence end and elder abuse begin? - Financial abuse was by far the most frequently mentioned type of abuse during the interviews and focus groups and it is also the most common type of abuse recorded in the agencies' quantitative data. Misuse of Enduring Powers of Attorney was the most frequently mentioned financial abuse issue, followed by the perceived responsibilities of Banks to increase protection of vulnerable older people's accounts. - Qualitative data showed indications of an overall trend for increased volume of cases involving older members of the Western Australian community. However, there was also a consistent degree of uncertainty about the relevance and quality of data provided. There is no uniformity in the way that statistics are gathered; therefore, it is not easy to collate information to gain a picture of what is occurring in relation to elder abuse in Western Australia. - There does not seem to be a cohesive approach to elder abuse across government and non-government organisations. A strong government department is required to take leadership of this issue and to develop a broad and articulate multi-level elder abuse strategy. There is also a need to develop a better first-level response to elder abuse, perhaps involving a multi-agency team approach. Other options to pressing charges against perpetrators or doing nothing need to be made available to people experiencing elder abuse, e.g. family counselling and mediation. - Elder abuse lags far behind child abuse and domestic violence in terms of public recognition and social responses. A public education campaign is required to promote the importance of this issue and alert people about older people's rights and assistance available. A number of recommendations were made to address the issues raised above, and these are listed in the following section. It has been noted that elder abuse research, policy and practice is about thirty years behind research, policy and practice in child abuse and domestic violence. Due to this fact, it tends to lack conceptual clarity and be poorly defined and measured. While a problematic concept, elder abuse is an issue of deepening concern in our ageing society and the challenge for government and welfare agencies is to ensure that there are adequate resources available to respond to it effectively. It is hoped that the results of this research will inform elder abuse prevention practices for a number of local agencies and allow key agencies working with elder abuse to improve their responses and address perceived gaps in current processes. Details: Crawley: Crime Research Centre, University of Western Australia, 2011. 123p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 3, 2014 at: http://www.law.uwa.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/2129606/2011-Examination-of-the-Extent-of-Elder-Abuse-in-Western-Australia.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Australia URL: http://www.law.uwa.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/2129606/2011-Examination-of-the-Extent-of-Elder-Abuse-in-Western-Australia.pdf Shelf Number: 132223 Keywords: Elder Abuse (Australia)Elderly VictimsFinancial Abuse |
Author: Sullivan, Mary Pat Title: Use as Abuse: A Feasibility Study of Alcohol-Related Elder Abuse Summary: Alcohol-related elder abuse is largely absent from the elder abuse and domestic violence literature. Although alcohol misuse is consistently identified as a risk factor for abuse, the problem manifests itself in a variety of ways and is not well understood theoretically or in direct practice with older people and their families. Thus, it remains an important area for research to more thoroughly understand its role in elder abuse, how to prevent or remove this risk factor, and how to assess and intervene when it emerges in practice. The aim of this feasibility study was to begin to explore the alcohol-related elder abuse problem in England and begin to characterise its role in cases of elder abuse, how practitioners were responding in these situations, and identify areas for further investigation. Funded by Alcohol Research UK, this study was the first of its kind in England. The methods adopted in this investigation included a review of the literature and existing data sets, a review of case files from one local authority adult safeguarding team and in-depth interviews with a sample of safeguarding and specialty alcohol practitioners. The findings from our investigation corroborate much of the existing literature that has primarily been produced in North America. Furthermore, these insights help to illuminate the subject area in England, extend our understandings in relation to community-based interventions and identify opportunities for further enquiry. The major findings are as follows: - Alcohol misusing elder abuse victims tended to be male, slightly younger than other victims, and abused by someone outside the family system. Their vulnerability for abuse seemed to be exacerbated by issues such as declining health, social isolation and possibly longstanding problems with alcohol. - Alcohol misusing elder abuse victims were twice as likely to be financially abused than non-alcohol misusing victims. - Alcohol misusing perpetrators tended to be male and a family member. - Physical abuse was more commonly identified by practitioners in cases with alcohol misusing perpetrators. - Specialty alcohol practitioners described their role as minimising the vulnerability to misuse alcohol and thereby reducing the risks for abuse. Safeguarding practitioners reported their role as a regulated one and their priority was to respond to referrals of older alcohol misusing victims who lacked mental capacity. - Practitioners were most challenged by cases where alcohol misuse had led to self-neglect or where the perpetrator was an alcohol misusing family member. - Evidence-informed community-based interventions were not identified. We conclude that this study offers an opportunity to expand our empirical understandings of alcohol-related elder abuse with a view to further mixed methods exploration in some of the following areas: - Further definition and characterisation of alcohol misuse as a risk factor for elder abuse (e.g., constructing explanations for who is misusing, nature of the misuse and abuse, relevance in family care system, self-neglect, relationship with other risk factors); - Exploration of practitioner assessment tools in relation to alcohol misuse and elder abuse; and - Developing and testing interdisciplinary social interventions, including education and training for practitioners and older people. Details: London: Alcohol Research UK, 2014. 53p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 2, 2014 at: http://alcoholresearchuk.org/downloads/finalReports/FinalReport_0111.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://alcoholresearchuk.org/downloads/finalReports/FinalReport_0111.pdf Shelf Number: 132600 Keywords: Alcohol Related Crime, DisorderDomestic ViolenceElder AbuseElderly Victims |
Author: Lachs, Mark Title: Documentation of Resident to Resident Elder Mistreatment in Residential Care Facilities Summary: Statement of purpose: This project addressed a problem of substantial empirical and practical significance: violence and aggression committed by nursing home residents that is directed toward other residents, referred to here as resident-to-resident elder mistreatment (R-REM). Prior pilot data, ongoing research by members of the research team, and a recent publication suggest that such resident-to-resident elder mistreatment is sufficiently widespread to merit concern, and is likely to have serious detrimental outcomes for residents. The goals of this project were to: enhance institutional recognition of R-REM; examine the convergence of R-REM reports across different methodologies; identify the most accurate mechanism for detecting and reporting R-REM; develop profiles of persons involved with R-REM by reporting source; investigate existing R-REM policies, and; develop institutional guidelines for reporting R-REM episodes. Design: This is an epidemiological prevalent cohort study with one wave of data collection. The parent study was conducted in five urban and five suburban nursing homes (N= 1405 urban residents; 441 suburban residents). Resident-to-resident abuse information was derived from residents, staff, observations, Incident and Accident reports and chart reviews. A prevalence period of two weeks was used for reporting purposes; one week before and after the prevalence period was allowed for case adjudication purposes using a gold standard consensus classification. Results: Using "the resident" as a unit of analysis (also the point of reference), within the two-week prevalence period, data were collected from six reporting sources including two added as part of this project, Incident/Accident reports and chart reviews. There were no R-REM-related incidents recorded in the Incident/Accident reports. The charts of five residents (0.4%) reflected R-REM-related incidents during the prevalence period. In general, convergence across all sources was low: pair-sources convergence ranged from 0.3% to 8.4%; the convergence among three-sources from .3% to 2.1%, and among four sources from 0.3% to 0.6%. In terms of the positive and negative predictive value, the resident and staff informants were the best sources (resident PPV=0.96; NPV=0.86; staff PPV=0.95, NPV=0.89) when compared to the gold standard case conference adjudication. Individual descriptive characteristics differed for those involved in R-REM compared to controls not involved in R-REM across sources; cases were more likely to be non-Hispanic White, reside in segregated dementia care units, and on average exhibited higher levels of disturbing behaviors (as reported by either the RAs, the nursing staff or both). Additionally, environmental factors differed on the units of those involved in R-REM and controls. There was more noise, i.e., residents and/or staff calling out or screaming and/or from radio/TV, alarms or bells, and congestion of equipment (more walkers) in public spaces on the units where residents involved in physical R-REM resided. Details: New York: Division of Geriatrics and Palliative Care, Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University; and Research Division, Hebrew Home at Riverdale, 2014. 283p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 9, 2015 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/246429.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/246429.pdf Shelf Number: 135197 Keywords: Elder Abuse (U.S.)Elderly Victims |
Author: New Zealand. Office for Senior Citizens Title: Towards gaining a greater understanding of elder abuse and neglect in New Zealand Summary: The United Nations and the World Health Organisation define elder abuse as, "a single, or repeated act, or lack of appropriate action, occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust which causes harm or distress to an older person". Such abuse can be physical, psychological or emotional, sexual and/or financial in nature. It can also be the result of intentional or unintentional neglect. This research, based on the New Zealand Longitudinal Study of Ageing (NZLSA) shows that the vast majority of older people are safe and are not experiencing or at risk of abuse and neglect. This is the first time New Zealand has been able to gain an insight into the likely numbers of older people experiencing some form of elder abuse and neglect. The results show that there are relatively high rates of measures which can be related to elder abuse and neglect, loneliness and depression. A number of specific groups of older people face higher rates of abuse, including women, Mori and those who are separated, divorced or widowed. Key findings include: -- Around one in ten older people did report some form of abuse (most closely linked to vulnerability and coercion) -- There were significant differences between women and men. Across each measure, women experienced a greater sense of vulnerability, dependence and dejection. However men experienced higher levels of coercion. -- Older people who were divorced, separated or widowed people felt considerably more sad and lonely, or were uncomfortable with someone in their family -- Older Maori experienced a significantly greater level of abuse than non-Maori. Maori report being coerced more than 2.5 times the rate for non-Maori, meaning they are forced to do things they don't want to do and people take things from them without their permission -- Failure to address current levels of elder abuse is likely to have significant effects in the future. This is because the report shows statistically significant reductions in physical and mental health and wellbeing, as well as increases in loneliness and depression associated with elder abuse -- Projections indicate that the number of older people experiencing elder abuse and neglect will increase significantly in the next 20 years, alongside a doubling of the 65 and over population. It should be noted that the results record: -- the prevalence and types of abuse as measured by Vulnerability to Abuse Screening Scale (VASS) from the sub-sample of NZLSA participants aged 65 years -- the relationships between gender, marital status and ethnicity and the elder abuse data -- the associations between the VASS responses and the wellbeing, health, depression and loneliness scales -- projections of elder abuse prevalence in New Zealand over the next five decades, based on this data and using Statistics NZ Population Projections by Age. Details: Wellington, NZ: Office for Senior Citizens, 2015. 20p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 3, 2015 at: http://www.msd.govt.nz/documents/about-msd-and-our-work/about-msd/our-structure/osc/elder-abuse-summary-report.pdf Year: 2015 Country: New Zealand URL: http://www.msd.govt.nz/documents/about-msd-and-our-work/about-msd/our-structure/osc/elder-abuse-summary-report.pdf Shelf Number: 136286 Keywords: Elder AbuseElderly VictimsFamily Violence |
Author: New South Wales. Parliament. Legislative Council. General Purpose Standing Committee Title: Elder Abuse in New South Wales Summary: It is clear to the committee that the time has come for the NSW Government to embrace a comprehensive, coordinated and ambitious approach to preventing and addressing elder abuse, captured in the eleven recommendations set out in this report. This comprehensive approach must engage the entire community with a clear focus on prevention, and must include key legislative reforms. It must be informed by a human rights framework affirming older people’s autonomy and self determination, and boost training for service providers to identify and respond to abuse. It must include an enhanced role for the NSW Elder Abuse Helpline and Resource Unit, and embrace an active commitment to developing the evidence base, in order to furnish better policy and service responses into the future. The committee appreciates that building this approach will necessarily take time and careful planning. Given the evidence that elder abuse is a significant and growing problem, the government must make elder abuse an immediate focus for action, so that the ambitious approach that we envisage is fully functioning by 2020. In respect of prevention, the committee acknowledges the important work that the government is already implementing via the NSW Ageing Strategy, the NSW Elder Abuse Helpline and Resource Unit, the NSW Carers Strategy, and later life planning. Nevertheless, it is self evident that a great deal more needs to be done to prevent the complex problem of elder abuse. The committee thus recommends that the NSW Government make a significant new investment in the prevention of elder abuse by preparing and funding a framework that provides for substantially enhanced primary prevention, community education and awareness, community engagement, carer support and later life planning initiatives. This prevention framework must provide specific resources targeting culturally and linguistically diverse communities and Aboriginal communities, and engage with Multicultural NSW and Aboriginal Affairs NSW. Turning to current service provision, the committee underscores that leadership by government officers in various agencies will be critical to the sustained effort required to build a new approach to elder abuse in New South Wales. We expect that the steering committee overseeing the government’s strategies will meet at least quarterly in order to enhance accountability and drive the implementation of government policy. It is timely that the Department of Family and Community Services (FACS) will soon commence its review of the NSW Interagency policy for preventing and responding to abuse of older people. The review should give due consideration to the content improvements proposed by stakeholders documented in our report and indeed the many detailed submissions to our inquiry; FACS should also conduct further consultation on potential improvements. Furthermore, it will be critical to the success of the revised interagency policy for FACS to develop a strong publicity and dissemination strategy. Ultimately, FACS must ensure that service providers actually utilise the document, develop their own policies and exercise their responsibilities under the policy. The committee congratulates the Elder Abuse Helpline and Resource Unit for the important work that it is doing with older people, family members and service providers on a modest budget, and we also congratulate the NSW Government for establishing the Unit. Like others, we consider both the Helpline and the Resource Unit as essential components of the elder abuse system in New South Wales. At the same time, it is clear to the committee that there is a significant need for greater provision of training to service providers to enable them to identify abuse and respond to it effectively. We note the recent provisions for additional training, but given the number of relevant service providers across the state, and the particular need to educate health professionals highlighted by several inquiry participants, the committee recommends that FACS and the NSW Ministry of Health together develop and resource a comprehensive plan for service provider training over the next four years. The committee also considers that the role of the Elder Abuse Helpline and Resource Unit should be expanded to include some provision for case management and coordination, owing to the inherent complexity of victims’ needs, and the multiple interventions that many require, as well as the demands that reporting abuse can place on an individual and their family. In addition, as the government’s comprehensive approach to elder abuse enables the community to better recognise abuse, it may be that there is an emerging need for the Helpline to operate beyond its current hours. The government should duly consider this possibility in the future, and ensure that in all aspects of the Unit’s work there is adequate provision for culturally and linguistically diverse and Aboriginal clients. Financial abuse emerged during the inquiry as a substantial problem demanding urgent action on the part of government. We are especially troubled by claims that the law as its stands provides insufficient safeguards against financial abuse, that it does not treat many forms of financial abuse as criminal, and indeed, that the law itself is significant enabler of abuse, especially the current law in respect of enduring powers of attorney. We share the view of many inquiry participants that offences and penalties should be introduced for misuse of enduring powers of attorney. In addition, it is extraordinary that an older person (a principal) has very limited ability to seek from the person or organisation they have appointed to manage their financial affairs (an attorney) any money that the attorney has stolen. As a matter of justice, there should be a straightforward process for an errant attorney to be ordered to pay compensation to the principal. Similarly, we see much merit in the view that attorneys must be subject to greater accountability and oversight. We agree that these deficits would be well addressed by the NSW Government amending powers of attorney legislation in line with the changes recently legislated under Victoria’s Powers of Attorney Act 2014, which itself was modelled on Queensland legislation. The committee considers that by adopting the Victorian model, New South Wales will significantly enhance protections at the very earliest stage – when enduring powers of attorney are being made – with the effect that attorneys would be much less likely to act inappropriately, and if they did, would be unable to claim that they were not aware of their responsibilities. In addition, restitution of assets will be made much more straightforward (and indeed likely) by enabling the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) to order an attorney who has misused their powers and caused loss to a principal to pay compensation to the principal or their estate. The provisions would also place a greater onus on legal practitioners to fulfil their own obligations when making an enduring power of attorney. Furthermore, by utilising the Victorian model, New South Wales will not only adopt a highly regarded set of provisions, but in so doing, would achieve uniformity along the east coast in an area of legislation where such uniformity is highly desirable. Like numerous participants, we consider that these amendments are urgently required in New South Wales. We further agree with stakeholders that people who take on the attorney role need to be better educated about their responsibilities. The Victorian provisions will address this to some extent, but more thought needs to be given to the best means by which it can be achieved. Details: Sydney: The Legislative Council, 2016. 206p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 5, 2016 at: https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/committees/DBAssets/InquiryReport/ReportAcrobat/6063/Report%2044%20-%20Elder%20abuse%20in%20New%20South%20Wales.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Australia URL: https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/committees/DBAssets/InquiryReport/ReportAcrobat/6063/Report%2044%20-%20Elder%20abuse%20in%20New%20South%20Wales.pdf Shelf Number: 140278 Keywords: Elder Abuse Elderly VictimsFinancial Fraud |
Author: U.S. Government Accountability Office Title: Elder Abuse: The Extent of Abuse by Guardians Is Unknown, but Some Measures Exist to Help Protect Olders Summary: The extent of elder abuse by guardians nationally is unknown due to limited data on key factors related to elder abuse by a guardian, such as the numbers of guardians serving older adults, older adults in guardianships, and cases of elder abuse by a guardian. Court officials from six selected states GAO spoke to noted various data limitations that prevent them from being able to provide reliable figures about elder abuse by guardians, including incomplete information about the ages of individuals with guardians. Officials from selected courts and representatives from organizations GAO spoke to described their observations about elder abuse by a guardian, including that one of the most common types appeared to be financial exploitation. Some efforts are under way to try to collect better data on elder abuse and guardianship at the federal, state, and local levels to support decision making and help prevent and address elder abuse by guardians. For example, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) plans to launch the National Adult Maltreatment Reporting System—a national reporting system based on data from state Adult Protective Services (APS) agency information systems by early 2017. According to HHS and its contractor, this system has the capability to collect information that could specifically help identify cases of elder abuse where a guardian was involved. GAO also identified state and local initiatives to capture key data points and complaint data as well as identify “red flags” such as unusually high guardian fees or excessive vehicle or dining expenses. The federal government does not regulate or directly support guardianship, but federal agencies may provide indirect support to state guardianship programs by providing funding for efforts to share best practices and facilitate improved coordination, as well as by sharing information that state and local entities can use related to guardianship. State and local courts have primary responsibility over the guardianship process and, as such, have a role in protecting older adults with guardians from abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Measures taken by selected states to help protect older adults with guardians vary but generally include screening, education, monitoring, and enforcement. Details: Washington, DC: GAO, 2016. 36p. Source: Internet Resource: GAO-17-33: Accessed December 5, 2016 at: http://gao.gov/assets/690/681088.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: http://gao.gov/assets/690/681088.pdf Shelf Number: 140305 Keywords: Elder Abuse Elderly Victims |
Author: Australian Law Reform Commission Title: Elder Abuse: Discussion Paper Summary: This is the second consultation document for the Elder Abuse Inquiry, in which the ALRC has been asked to consider existing Commonwealth laws and frameworks which seek to safeguard and protect older persons from misuse or abuse by formal and informal carers, supporters, representatives and others, and to examine the interaction and relationship of these laws with state and territory laws. Table of Contents: Terms of Reference Participants Proposals and Questions 1. Introduction to the Inquiry 2. National Plan 3. Powers of Investigation 4. Criminal Justice Responses 5. Enduring Powers of Attorney and Enduring Guardianship 6. Guardianship and Financial Administration Orders 7. Banks and Superannuation 8. Family Agreements 9. Wills 10. Social Security 11. Aged Care 12. Other Issues Details: Sydney: The Commission, 2016. 266p. Source: Internet Resource: Discussion Paper 83: Accessed December 15, 2016 at: https://www.alrc.gov.au/sites/default/files/pdfs/publications/dp83.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Australia URL: https://www.alrc.gov.au/sites/default/files/pdfs/publications/dp83.pdf Shelf Number: 146151 Keywords: Elder AbuseElderly Victims |
Author: Blomberg, Thomas G. Title: Elder Financial Exploitation in a Large Retirement Community Summary: There were 44.7 million Americans over 65 years of age in 2013, comprising 14.1% of the total United States Population (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2016). By 2020, the number is expected to increase to 55 million (U.S. Census Bureau, 2014). According to former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, as many as eight million elderly citizens fall victim, in a given year, to financial exploitation (Holder, 2012). It is estimated that financial exploitation costs this group over thirty-six billion dollars annually (True Link Financial, 2016). Moreover, and beyond the billions of lost savings, elderly financial exploitation victims are at an increased risk for psychological and emotional damage and are three times more likely to die at an earlier age (National Adult Protective Services Association, 2014). There is significant variation in the research methods, data, and definitions used in elder financial exploitation research, which alters findings on respective perpetrator characteristics and risk factors as these vary depending on the specific type of financial exploitation. Further, the inconsistencies in the available research do not allow for a reliable assessment of the scope and risk factors of elder financial exploitation. As a result, important questions remain, namely: What are the prevalence and common types of elder financial exploitation? What are the risk factors of elder financial exploitation? What factors protect against victimization? What are the consequences of financial exploitation on the quality of life, physical health, and emotional health of victims? What factors influence the reporting behavior of victims? What steps can be taken by elder citizens, caregivers, family members, financial advisors, and government officials to reduce elder financial exploitation? How do we theoretically explain elder financial exploitation? Details: Tallahassee: Florida State University, College of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Center for Criminology and Public Policy Research, 2016. 72p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 11, 2017 at: http://criminology.fsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/Elder-Financial-Exploitation-Report.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: http://criminology.fsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/Elder-Financial-Exploitation-Report.pdf Shelf Number: 144789 Keywords: Elderly VictimsFinancial Crimes Financial Exploitation |
Author: Burnett, Jason Title: Exploring Elder Financial Exploitation Victimization: Identifying Unique Risk Profiles and Factors To Enhance Detection, Prevention and Intervention Summary: Statement of Purpose: Explore risk factors across the socioecological framework (i.e. individual, perpetrator and community-levels) to identify the most important factors that differentiate elder financial exploitation (FE) from other forms of abuse as well as pure FE from hybrid FE. Description of Research Subjects: Older adults 65 years and older with a confirmed case of abuse (i.e. financial exploitation, caregiver neglect, physical abuse, emotional abuse) by Texas Adult Protective Services between the years 2009 - 2014. Methods: Secondary data analysis of a 5- year statewide aggregated cohort of Texas Adult Protective Services confirmed cases of abuse between the years 2009 - 2014. Case investigation data such as demographics, reported and confirmed abuse types, victim and perpetrator mental and physical health, substance use, social and financial factors along with community-level data (Geographic Information Systems) were analyzed. Supervised Learning, which provides a step-by-step statistical decision-making process was used to identify the most reliable, interpretive and predictive risk factor models. Training and test sampling was included for replication purposes. Results: Financially-based variables are the best predictors of FE versus other forms of abuse, but apparent injury appears to be the most important indicator of other forms of abuse even in the presence of FE. Hybrid FE may be strongly related to poorer outcomes compared to pure FE however, the most predictive model found negative effects of others, alcohol and substance use by others as well as foreclosure and inadequate medical supplies to be the most important predictors of hybrid FE. Models that accounted for less linearity between the variables resulted in greater accuracy in group classification indicating the need to account for complex interactions across the socio-ecological context. Conclusion: Different factors across the socio-ecological context are needed to reliably differentiate between elder FE and other forms of abuse as well as pure versus hybrid FE. These factors will also vary depending on the perspective one takes regarding the linearity of the interactions between the different factors. The findings provide support for the need to differentiate between types of abuse and subtypes of elder FE and the need for frontline workers and social service agencies and researchers to account for variables across the socio-ecological context when developing surveillance, intervention and prevention programs. Details: Houston: The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 2017. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 14, 2017 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/250756.pdf Year: 2017 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/250756.pdf Shelf Number: 146140 Keywords: Elder AbuseElderly VictimsFinancial CrimesFinancial Exploitation |
Author: Australian Law Reform Commission Title: Elder Abuse - A National Legal Response. Final Report Summary: The ALRC was asked to consider Commonwealth laws and legal frameworks and how they might better protect older persons from misuse or abuse, and safeguard their autonomy. The Report includes 43 recommendations for law reform. The overall effect will be to safeguard older people from abuse and support their choices and wishes through: improved responses to elder abuse in residential aged care; enhanced employment screening of care workers; greater scrutiny regarding the use of restrictive practices in aged care; building trust and confidence in enduring documents as important advanced planning tools; protecting older people when 'assets for care' arrangements go wrong; banks and financial institutions protecting vulnerable customers from abuse; better succession planning across the self-managed superannuation sector; adult safeguarding regimes protecting and supporting at-risk adults. Details: Sydney: The Commission, 2017. 432p. Source: Internet Resource: (ALRC Report 131); Accessed June 16, 2017 at: https://www.alrc.gov.au/sites/default/files/pdfs/publications/elder_abuse_131_final_report_31_may_2017.pdf Year: 2017 Country: Australia URL: https://www.alrc.gov.au/sites/default/files/pdfs/publications/elder_abuse_131_final_report_31_may_2017.pdf Shelf Number: 146201 Keywords: Elder Abuse Elderly Victims |
Author: Lacey, Wendy Title: Prevalence of Elder Abuse in South Australia. Final Report: Current Data Collection Practices of Key Agencies Summary: 1.1 Understanding and awareness of elder abuse as a significant problem is well understood among key government and non-government agencies within South Australia, including its causes, indicators and effects. Each of the agencies interviewed collects data on cases of elder abuse to some degree. However, with the exception of the Aged Rights Advocacy Service (ARAS), every agency interviewed expressed some level of dismay at the current practices around, and capacity for, the collation and analysis of data held by agencies. With the exception of ARAS, there currently are no systematic processes for collating de-identified data for analysis at the agency level, and privacy laws are seen to inhibit the sharing of data between agencies. Consequently, access to prevalence data is presently limited. 1.2 Only one agency at the State level - ARAS - currently collates comprehensive data on the prevalence of elder abuse reported to that organisation. However, as not every victim of elder abuse would be reported to ARAS, it is impossible to identify the exact prevalence rates of elder abuse currently experienced by older South Australians, including which cases are reported to multiple agencies. 1.3 All agencies currently collect data for the purpose of assisting them to provide a specialist service to their clients and, where relevant, to report back to funding bodies. Data collected in this way is frequently contained in individual client or case file notes, which do not readily lend themselves to a simple process of collating and analysing de-identified data. However, on certain occasions, some agencies have attempted to analyse a selection of elder abuse case files. Indeed, for agencies such as Domiciliary Care SA, recent changes to their funding and casework under the new Consumer Directed Care (CDC) framework have further precluded the collection of data on elder abuse as they move away from a comprehensive case management approach to a system of managing specific incidents and issues. 1.4 While most agencies have data contained in individual case file notes, that data is not easily or readily accessible, comparable and able to be monitored for trends over time. Consequently, most agencies expressed a need for a more systematic approach towards data collection in relation to elder abuse. 1.5 Interviews with agency representatives highlighted the lack of consistent definitions of elder abuse between some agencies and throughout Australia as an historical barrier to the collection of prevalence data, and this point is supported in the literature. However, the definitions contained in the Strategy to Safeguard the Rights of Older South Australians 2014-2021 are being used by agencies, which augurs well for future data collection and the use of consistent definitions in South Australia. 1.6 Because of the different approaches to collecting information in cases of elder abuse, not every agency has a set process for classifying what category of abuse has allegedly occurred, nor the specific demographic details of both the victim and offender details such as age, suburb, living arrangements, ethnic background etc. ARAS is an exception. However, all agencies interviewed had considerable experience in working with elder abuse victims and most agencies have the potential to provide access to a selection of de-identified case files as well as possible generic statistics. Such case files may be the only way of using qualitative data currently held by agencies to identify where an older person may have engaged with more than one agency. However, that assumes that clients have agreed to the sharing of their information and that files have not been de-identified. Without that information, it would be difficult to identify where an individual case of elder abuse is being reported to multiple agencies, thus skewing any prevalence data. 1.7 The literature is replete with calls for better prevalence data to support stronger initiatives to safeguard older persons from abuse. The first stage of the current project has highlighted significant areas where improvements could be made to current data collection and collation processes, for the purposes of ensuring a consistent approach across agencies to the provision of de-identified data. This data could then be collated and analysed by the Office for the Ageing (OFTA) on an annual basis, monitoring trends in cases of abuse and assisting to build a better understanding of the extent and depth of the problem. 1.8 The lack of quantitative data should not deter initiatives at the state, national or local levels, especially as the literature clearly indicates the degree to which elder abuse remains largely a hidden problem in society. Stage Two of this project, based on the interviews of six older persons, provides a qualitative dataset that speaks to the lived experiences of victims of elder abuse. These interviews provide a rich narrative for understanding how vulnerable older persons experience abuse and its significant consequences for their daily lives. Thus, the absence of comprehensive prevalence data that could provide a statistical indication of the prevalence of elder abuse among older South Australians should not hinder strategies to develop more streamlined processes among agencies which will facilitate the collection, collation and analysis of de-identified data. Details: Adelaide: University of South Australia, 2017. 75p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 23, 2017 at: http://apo.org.au/system/files/101301/apo-nid101301-410241.pdf Year: 2017 Country: Australia URL: http://apo.org.au/system/files/101301/apo-nid101301-410241.pdf Shelf Number: 146879 Keywords: Elder Abuse and Neglect Elderly Victims |
Author: Joosten, Melanie Title: Understanding Elder Abuse: A Scoping Study Summary: Elder abuse is a highly complex social problem. The abuse takes many forms, including: financial, physical, psychological, social and sexual as well as the more passive form of neglect. It can be deliberate or inadvertent. It is difficult to measure as the type of abuse and setting in which it occurs differ markedly. It is also difficult to know when an intervention to prevent or manage abuse has been successful as this will depend on the type of abuse and the definition of success. A service provider may define success as cessation of abuse but an older person may not regard cessation as successful if it has meant that they have had to move house or lost contact with the family member perpetrating the abuse. It is also difficult to design interventions that focus on the perpetrator, unless they are also the carer of the older person. For these reasons, there is a lack of high quality research evidence to support the effectiveness of most elder abuse interventions. This review begins with a broad discussion of elder abuse by considering the definition of the term and the prevalence of the behaviour, the impact elder abuse has on older people and the wider population, and the family context within which elder abuse most often occurs. It then considers the different ways elder abuse is conceptualised, and how it intersects with a range of other issues including ageism, family violence and conflict, caregiving, gender and sexuality, and culture and suggests that an applied ecological approach (which considers the individual and their place within their community and society) is the most comprehensive way of conceptualising elder abuse. Finally, interventions that show some evidence or promise, and which should be further and more rigorously researched and evaluated are described. 'Elder abuse' is best used as a descriptive umbrella term that encompasses a broad range of behaviours. Elder abuse should be considered in the context of ageism, family violence and conflict, caregiving, gender and sexuality, and culture, and any policies or interventions aimed at addressing the mistreatment of older people need to take these factors into consideration. Blanket approaches to prevention and intervention are unlikely to address the complex nature of elder abuse. Different types of abuse (financial, psychological, physical, sexual and social abuse and neglect) are related to different risk factors, each of which need to be considered to ensure a longterm solution for any individual. When abuse occurs within the family it is often intergenerational (adult children perpetrating abuse toward their parents). The complex and constantly changing nature of parentchild relationships over the life course can result in feelings of ambivalence that can affect the older person's likelihood of taking action to stop the abuse. Consequently, a need has been identified for evidence-based interventions that address the older person, the abuser and their relationship. Details: Melbourne: University of Melbourne and the National Ageing Research Institute, 2017. 66p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 18, 2017 at: http://www.nari.net.au/files/elder_abuse_design-screen.pdf Year: 2017 Country: Australia URL: http://www.nari.net.au/files/elder_abuse_design-screen.pdf Shelf Number: 148266 Keywords: Elder Abuse and Neglect Elderly Victims |
Author: Mann, Rosemary Title: Norma's Project: A Research Study into the Sexual Assault of Older Women in Australia Summary: Norma's Project was conceived in response to the experience of Norma, the mother of one of the four researchers involved in the project. Norma was a confused and vulnerable 83 year old woman who was sexually assaulted by a male staff member during a respite stay in a residential aged care facility in 2011. Norma was able to tell her story coherently and consistently, and she was able to identify her attacker. She was fortunate that her daughter and others, including police and sexual assault workers, listened and believed her account, tried to bring the perpetrator to justice, and worked hard to make her feel safe again. Nonetheless, given the lack of forensic evidence, the case against the perpetrator was not strong enough for a successful court action to be prosecuted. The idea of older women as victims of sexual assault is relatively recent and little understood. However, it is becoming increasingly evident that, despite the silence that surrounds the topic, such assaults occur in many settings and circumstances. The lack of community awareness can be partly attributed to commonly held assumptions that older women are asexual. How, then, can they be the target of sexual assault? What is unimaginable and unacceptable becomes unsayable or invisible. The significant gaps in knowledge about the sexual assault of older women present a major obstacle to the development of frameworks and strategies for prevention and intervention. Consequently the Norma's Project research team sought funding from the Australian Department of Social Services to address the gaps and increase our understandings of the settings, social contexts and vulnerabilities associated with the sexual assault of older women. The project aims to increase awareness of this important issue both within the community and amongst service providers, and to strengthen the community's ability to prevent, respond to and speak out about the sexual assault of older women. Details: Melbourne: Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society (ARCSHS), LaTrobe University, 2014. 84p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 21, 2017 at: http://elder-mediation.com.au/resources/Sexual_Assault_Older_Women_Australia.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Australia URL: http://elder-mediation.com.au/resources/Sexual_Assault_Older_Women_Australia.pdf Shelf Number: 148283 Keywords: Elder Abuse and NeglectElderly VictimsRapeSexual AssaultSexual ViolenceViolence Against Women |
Author: Amendola, Karen L. Title: The Course of Domestic Abuse among Chicago's Elderly: Risk Factors, Protective Behaviors, and Police Intervention Summary: The growing body of elder abuse research reflects the increasing attention paid to this serious problem and emphasizes the need for effective prevention and intervention strategies. While past research has examined risk factors and protective behaviors associated with abuse, studies have generally not examined either the course of abuse over time or the effectiveness of different intervention strategies. Despite the fact that the police have increasingly become involved in matters of domestic abuse against the elderly, the impact of their involvement has not been assessed. This study examines if and how risk factors and protective behaviors affect the course of abuse over time, and the role of the police in intervening with elderly victims of domestic abuse and/or neglect. We also examine the prevalence rates for various types of abuse using a stratified sample of Chicago's elderly population. Our sample consisted of 1,795 elderly residents for whom we could identify victimization status. In-depth interviews were conducted with 328 elderly residents from three sample groups: 1) community non-victims (n = 159); 2) community victims (n = 121); and 3) a police sample consisting of elderly victims who had been visited by trained domestic violence/senior citizen victimization officers in the Chicago Police Department (n = 48). Participants in the three groups were current residents of the City Chicago, aged 60 and over. We conducted phone interviews using a survey instrument designed to assess victimization. The survey included questions about various characteristics and risk factors associated both with victims and perpetrators of abuse and/or neglect, specific types of abuse, and protective behaviors of victims. Victimization was examined twice over a 10-month period to evaluate the course of abuse over time. The efficacy of police intervention was also examined. Prevalence rates for our sample were similar to those found in other studies of elder abuse. In examining the course of abuse, we found that victims from the police sample were more likely to have at least one incident of subsequent abuse than were those from the community sample. However, for those in the police sample, the number of forms of abuse that occurred repeatedly (> 10 times) went down. In addition, those in the police sample were more likely to have engaged in protective behaviors or service seeking, than those in the community sample. These findings suggest that intervention by officers trained to deal with the elderly and/or domestic abuse victims can lead to increased engagement in protective behaviors and ultimately reductions in the number of frequently occurring forms of abuse. Implications for the law enforcement community's response to elder abuse victimization as well as limitations of the study are discussed. Details: Final report to the U.S. National Institute of Justice, 2010. 132p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 13, 2018 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/232623.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/232623.pdf Shelf Number: 120559 Keywords: Domestic AbuseElder AbuseElderly VictimsFamily ViolencePolice InterventionsProtective Behaviors |
Author: SafeLives Title: Safe Later Lives: Older people and domestic abuse Summary: Domestic abuse is a complex, wide reaching and largely hidden phenomenon. Each year, around 2.1 million people suffer from domestic abuse in England and Wales - 1.4 million women (8.5% of the population) and 700,000 men (4.5% of the population). Crucially, 85% of victims made five attempts on average to get support from professionals in the year before they accessed effective help to stop the abuse. Whilst the impact of domestic abuse is grave on all victims, certain groups experience additional challenges and barriers. Many surveys and studies, such as the Crime Survey for England and Wales, have excluded consideration for victims aged 60 plus, and awareness raising campaigns have consistently focused on younger victims and perpetrators. This serves to reinforce the false assumption that abuse ceases to exist beyond a certain age. The limited pool of research which does exist on domestic abuse and older people suggests that "older women's experiences of domestic abuse are markedly different from those in younger age groups and that these differences have not been adequately acknowledged or accounted for". This report provides a focus on this historically 'hidden' group, which is essential to tailoring appropriate and effective services for victims (and perpetrators). The report is part of the SafeLives 'Spotlights' series, which will focus on hidden groups of domestic abuse victims throughout 2016 and 2017 and propose recommendations for both practitioners and policymakers. The first Spotlights has focused on older victims of abuse and involved a survey with 27 professionals, feedback from survivors, frontline practitioners and policymakers, as well as webinars and a social media Q&A. Details: Brighton, UK: SafeLives, 2016. 34p. Source: Internet Resource: Spotlights Report #1 Hidden Victims: Accessed February 13, 2018 at: http://safelives.org.uk/sites/default/files/resources/Safe%20Later%20Lives%20-%20Older%20people%20and%20domestic%20abuse.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://safelives.org.uk/sites/default/files/resources/Safe%20Later%20Lives%20-%20Older%20people%20and%20domestic%20abuse.pdf Shelf Number: 149111 Keywords: Domestic ViolenceElder AbuseElderly VictimsFamily Violence |