Elder mistreatment in underserved populations: Opportunities and challenges to developing a contemporary program of research

ABSTRACT

This article provides an overview of the status of research on elder mistreatment among underserved populations in the United States, including gaps in our current knowledge base and scientific and structural barriers to growing research on the exploitation, neglect, and abuse of older people from diverse and disadvantaged ethnic/racial, geographic, sexual identity, and socioeconomic groups. High-priority areas in need of new elder mistreatment research with underserved populations are identified, and suggestions are given for how this research can be facilitated by researchers, university institutional review boards, and funding agencies.

KEYWORDS:

• Elder mistreatment
• ethnic/racial minorities
• poverty
• rural
• underserved

Acknowledgment

This article is based on the proceedings of the National Institutes of Health workshop on October, 30, 2015: Multiple Approaches to Understanding and Preventing Elder Abuse.