| |
| |
| |
Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
 | |
|
| How older persons explain why they became victims of abuse | | Author(s) | Yuliya Mysyuk, Rudi Gerardhus Johannes Westendorp, Jolanda Lindenberg |
| Journal title | Age and Ageing, vol 45, no 5, September 2016 |
| Publisher | Oxford University Press, September 2016 |
| Pages | pp 695-702 |
| Source | www.ageing.oxfordjournals.org |
| Keywords | Elder abuse ; Qualitative Studies ; Netherlands. |
| Annotation | Elder abuse can greatly affect older peole's quality of life. Depending on the definition used, prevalence rates range from 3% to 30%. Only about a dozen studies have explored how older victims themselves experience and explain abuse; and it is essential that healthcare professionals understand the perceptions of older victims as they are among the most important groups to handle and report abuse. This Dutch qualitative study on the perceptions and experiences of victims of elder abuse was conducted using in-depth semi-structured interviews. Subjects were six men and 11 women aged 63-90 years, who were abused and living independently, in residential care facilities, or in nursing homes. The main causes of abuse identified by older victims themselves were mutual dependency between victim and perpetrator, power and control imbalances, loneliness and a marginalised social position of older people. Effects of abuse included negative feelings, physical and psychological distress, a change of personal norms and values, changed perspectives on money, and low self-efficacy. These differential effects depended upon the types of abuse experienced and the relationship with the perpetrator. Coping strategies mentioned by victims were seeking informal or professional help, and using self-help strategies. Older victims perceive abuse differently, depending on the expected acceptability of the type(s) of abuse experienced and the anticipated stigma associated with the perpetrator involved. The effects and chosen coping strategies are influenced by these considerations, and therewith also influence their help-seeking behaviour. Healthcare professionals are encouraged to use these findings in practice to prevent, detect and intervene in elder abuse. (RH). |
| Accession Number | CPA-170106228 A |
| Classmark | QNT: 3DP: 76H |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
|
| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
| |
|
|