An examination of 288 validated instances of elder maltreatment suggests that these phenomena pose questions as diverse as those faced in identifying child and spouse maltreatment. A partial typology is offered to guide further investigations. Implications for policy and practice suggest a cautious approach to value-laden issues while recognizing the need for intervention.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
GiordanoH. and GiordanoJ. A., Elder Abuse: A Review of the Literature, Social Work, 29, pp. 232–236, May-June 1984.
2.
HallP. A. and Rodriguez-AndrewS., Report, Intervention and Outcome in Elder Maltreatment, mimeographed, Worden School of Social Service, Our Lady of the Lake University, San Antonio, 1984.
3.
StarB., Helping the Abuser: Intervening Effectively in Family Violence, Family Service Association of America, New York, 1983.
4.
SteinT. J., The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, Social Service Review, pp. 302–314, 1984.
5.
DavisL. V. and CarlsonB. E., Atttitudes of Service Providers Toward Domestic Violence, Social Work Research and Abstracts, 17, pp. 34–39, 1981.
6.
BlockM. and SinnottJ., The Battered Elderly Syndrome, University of Maryland, Center on Aging, College Park, 1979.
7.
ChenP. N.BellS. L.DolinskyD. L.DoyleJ., and DunnM., Elder Abuse in Domestic Settings: A Pilot Study, Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 4, pp. 3–17, 1981.
8.
FaulknerL. R., Mandating the Reporting of Suspected Cases of Elder Abuse: An Inappropriate, Ineffective and Ageist Response to the Abuse of Older Adults, Family Law Quarterly, 16, pp. 69–91, 1982.
9.
Pedrick-CornellC. and GellesR. J., Elder Abuse: The Status of Current Knowledge, Family Relations, 31, pp. 457–465, 1982.
10.
Texas Human Resources Code, Title 2, Chapter 48.
11.
HickeyT. and DouglasR. L., Neglect and Abuse of Older Family Members: Professionals' Perspectives and Case Experiences, Gerontologist, 21, pp. 171–176, 1981.
12.
O'MalleyH.SegarsH.PerezR.MitchellV., and KneupfelG., Elder Abuse in Massachusetts: A Survey of Professionals and Paraprofessionals, Massachusetts Legal Research and Services for the Elderly, Boston, 1979.
13.
LauE. E. and KosbergJ. I., Abuse of the Elderly by Informal Care Providers, Aging, 299–300, pp. 10–15, 1979.
14.
Rathbone-McCuanE., Elderly Victims of Family Violence and Neglect, Social Casework, 61, pp. 296–304, 1980.
15.
SteuerJ. and AustinE., Family Abuse of the Elderly, Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 20, pp. 372–376, 1980.
16.
KrippendorffK., Content Analysis, Sage Publications, Beverly Hills, pp. 57–63, 1980.
17.
GlaserB. G. and StraussA., The Discovery of Grounded Theory: Strategies for Qualitative Research, Aldine, Chicago, 1967.
18.
KosbergJ. I., Family Conflict and Abuse of the Elderly: Theoretical and Methodological Issues, paper presented at the 1979 Gerontological Society Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C., November, 1979.
19.
GellesR. J. and StrausM. A., Determinants of Violence in the Family: Toward a Theoretical Integration, in Contemporary Theories About the Family, Volume 1, BunW. R.HillR. H.NyeF. I., and ReissI. L. (eds.), The Free Press, New York, pp. 549–581, 1979.
20.
StrausM. A., Measuring Intrafamily Conflict and Violence: The Conflict Tactics (CT) Scales, Journal of Marriage and the Family, 14, pp. 75–88, 1979.
21.
HickeyT. and DouglassR. L., Mistreatment of the Elderly in the Domestic Setting: An Exploratory Study, American Journal of Public Health, 71, pp. 500–507, 1981.
22.
DresselP. L., Policy Sources of Worker Dissatisfaction: The Case of Human Services in Aging, Social Service Review, 56, pp. 406–423, 1982.
23.
CallahanJ. J., Elder Abuse Programming: Will It Help the Elderly?The Urban and Social Change Review, 15, pp. 15–16, 1982.
24.
PoulshockS. W., Executive Summary: The Effects on Families of Caring for Impaired Elderly in Residence, Margaret Bleuker Research Center for Family Studies, The Benjamin Rose Institute, Cleveland, October 1982.
25.
FergusonD. and BeckC., H.A.L.F.—A Tool to Assess Elder Abuse Within the Family, Geriatric Nursing, 4, pp. 301–304, 1983.
26.
Hospital Protocol Committee, The Protocol for the Treatment and Referral of Adult and Elderly Abuse Victims, The Family and Child Abuse Prevention Center, Toledo, 1983.
27.
TomitaS. K., Detection and Treatment of Elderly Abuse and Neglect: A Protocol for Health Care Professionals, Physical and Occupational Therapy in Geriatrics, 2, pp. 37–51, 1982.
28.
ShellD. J., Protection of the Elderly—A Study of Elder Abuse, Manitoba Council on Aging, Winnipeg, Canada, 1982.
29.
BiegelD. E.ShoreB. K., and GordonE., Building Support Networks for the Elderly, Sage Publications, Beverly Hills, 1984.