Assessment Guideline for Elder Domestic Violence (AGED)

Abstract

Introduction: Violence against the elderly is a complex multidisciplinary social problem that requires cooperation between institutions and professionals. World Health Organization [1] defines this kind of violence as a single or repeated action, or the absence of an appropriate action, arising in the context of a relationship where there is an expectation of trust that causes suffering or harm to an elderly person. Occurs through several behaviors involving psychological, physical, sexual, financial violence, neglect and self-neglect [2]. In Portugal it is possible to identify a small number of studies about elder abuse, only about general prevalence and about some subtypes of elder abuse [3], but not about risk assessment. According to Portuguese Association for Victims Support, between 2013 and 2015, were recorded 2.063 processes of elderly people were victims of violence [4]. The main goal of this research is to contribute for the definition and prevalence of elder abuse in Portugal, identifying familiar, social and cultural dynamics and develop an integrative risk management protocol that will allow the elder abuse risk assessment.

Materials and methods: In order to assist the victims’ support professionals and the criminal justice system have been developed a new risk assessment tool, called “Assessment Guidelines for Elder Domestic Violence” (AGED). This work is organized in 3 phases/studies: Study I. Elderly abuse prevalence, risk, protective and vulnerability factors study, and checklist variables construction; Study II. Retrospective study of the elder abuse cases reported in the victims support organizations and criminal justice system; Study III. Development of the AGED. All ethical principles have been taken due to the sensitive nature of the data involved.

Results: After study 1 and study 2, the results of the development of AGED were composed by five sections/areas: I. Victim’s Risk factors; II. Offender’s Risk Factors; III. External, Contextual and Relational Risk Factors; IV. Victim/Context Protective Factors; and finally, V. Institutional Risk Factors, if applicable. AGED also contemplates the possibility of the evaluator being able to add other additional factors that they consider necessary, contributing to the effectiveness of the measurement of the level of risk of the victim (low, moderate or high) and critical factors.

Discussion and conclusions: AGED is developed with the main goal to supporting professionals who work in domestic violence. Scientific community make evident the need for an evidence-based, valid, user-friendly risk assessment tool of elder abuse to support the professionals. This study offers the opportunity to provide professionals specific knowledge, skills, competences and a tool, in order to an effective risk assessment and management of elder abuse, contributing to the efforts for protect victims and prevent the occurrence of future cases.