Cultural and Ethical Issues in Korea's Recent Elder Abuse Reporting System

Abstract

The primary purpose of this article is to examine the relevance of cultural values, such as familism and individualism, that influence public policy implementation processes for protecting older adults in Korea and the United States. The secondary purpose is to identify ethical dilemmas and policy implications for effectively implementing the recently developed public law designed to protect vulnerable older adults in Korea. This article discusses both similarities and differences found in the two countries' elder abuse reporting systems and the service delivery systems for protecting older adults at risk of abuse and neglect.

KEYWORDS:

• elder abuse
• reporting system
• Adult Protective Services
• cultural sensitivity
• ethical dilemmas

An earlier version of the article, “An Overview of Cultural and Ethical Issues in Elder Abuse Reporting Systems in Korea and the U.S.A.,” was presented at the 18th Asia-Pacific Social Work Conference held in September 2005 in Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Notes