Older People’s Perceptions of the Term Elder Abuse and Characteristics Associated With a Lower Level of Awareness

Abstract

A national representative survey of 2,021 community-dwelling older people was carried out in 2010 using face-to-face interviews. The study examined how the term “elder abuse” was understood by this population and identified factors associated with lower levels of awareness. Over 80% of this population recognized the term elder abuse, and 56% demonstrated specific insight related to typologies, locations, and perpetrators of abuse. Less specific responses were given by 22% of participants, and a further 21% could not give a reply. Less specific or “don’t know” responses were independently associated with age 80 years or older, a lower level of education, impaired physical health, and living in economically deprived communities. Despite ongoing public information campaigns, there remained a significant portion of older people who may be unaware of or have limited insight into elder abuse. This study suggests a need for more targeted education campaigns aimed at specific higher-risk groups.

KEYWORDS:

• elder abuse
• awareness
• risk factors
• Ireland
• public information campaigns

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors would like to thank the study participants and the interviewers for their time and courage in talking about elder abuse. The authors acknowledge the National Centre for the Protection of Older People (NCPOP) research team, the NCPOP Board of Directors, Tim Grant, CSTAR, UCD, for statistical advice, the NCPOP International Advisory Committee: Professor Karl Pillemer, Cornell University Institute for Translational Research on Aging, Professor Simon Biggs, Kings College London, and Dr. Isabel Iborra Marmolejo, Queen Sofia Centre for Studies on Violence, Valencia, Spain, for the contribution of their time, effort, and dedication. Also Dr. Mark Lachs, Cornell University Centre for Aging Research, for advice on instrument design.

FUNDING

National Centre for the Protection of Older People (NCPOP) is funded by the Health Service Executive (HSE) Ireland, and this project was part of the work package of this Academic Centre.