Elder abuse in the COVID-19 era based on calls to the National Center on Elder Abuse resource line

Abstract

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated circumstances that place older adults at higher risk for abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Identifying characteristics of elder abuse during COVID-19 is critically important. This study characterized and compared elder abuse patterns across two time periods, a one-year period during the pandemic, and a corresponding one-year period prior to the start of the pandemic. Methods Contacts (including social media contacts, and email; all referred to as “calls” for expediency) made to the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) resource line were examined for differences in types of reported elder abuse and characteristics of alleged perpetrators prior to the pandemic (Time 1; March 16, 2018 to March 15, 2019) and during the pandemic (Time 2; March 16, 2020 to March 15, 2021). Calls were examined for whether or not abuse was reported, the types of reported elder abuse, including financial, physical, sexual, emotional, and neglect, and characteristics of callers, victims, and alleged perpetrators. Chi-square tests of independence compared frequencies of elder abuse characteristics between time periods. Results In Time 1, 1401 calls were received, of which 795 calls (56.7%) described abuse. In Time 2, 1009 calls were received, of which 550 calls (54.5%) described abuse. The difference between time periods in frequency of abuse to non-abuse calls was not significant ($$p=0.28$$ p = 0.28 ). Time periods also did not significantly differ with regard to caller, victim, and perpetrator characteristics. Greater rates of physical abuse ($${\upchi }^{2}=23.52, p<0.001)$$ χ 2 = 23.52 , p < 0.001 ) and emotional abuse ($${\upchi }^{2}=7.12, p=0.008)$$ χ 2 = 7.12 , p = 0.008 ) were reported during Time 2 after adjustment for multiple comparisons. An increased frequency of multiple forms of abuse was also found in Time 2 compared to Time 1 ($${\upchi }^{2}=23.52, p<0.001)$$ χ 2 = 23.52 , p < 0.001 ) . Conclusions Findings suggest differences in specific elder abuse subtypes and frequency of co-occurrence between subtypes between time periods, pointing to a potential increase in the severity of elder abuse during COVID-19.

Elder abuse: a conceptual analysis

“…Author Title Year Study design/ level of evidence Li; Dong (12) Elder abuse and cognitive function among community-Dwelling older adults: Does abuse history matter? 2022 Cross-sectional V Ludvigsson et al (13) Experiences of elder abuse: a qualitative study among victims in Sweden 2022 Cross-sectional V Dominguez; Storey; Glorney (14) Characterizing Elder Abuse in the UK: A Description of Cases Reported to a National Helpline 2022 Cross-sectional V Weissberger et al (15) Elder abuse in the COVID-19 era based on calls to the National Center on Elder Abuse resource line 2022 Cross-sectional V Souza et al (16) Factors associated with the risk of violence against older adult women: a cross-sectional study 2021 Analytical IV Botngård et al (17) Elder abuse in Norwegian nursing homes: a cross-sectional exploratory study 2021 Analytical IV Alarcon et al (18) Percepção do idoso acerca da violência vivida 2020 Descriptive VI Meyer et al (19) Violence against older women: A systematic review of qualitative literature 2020 Qualitative systematic review V…”

“…Limitations and physical disability, on the one hand, consists of a risk factor (16)(17)(19)(20)(22)(23)28,(30)(31)(32)(34)(35)(37)(38)(39)(40)(41)(42)(43)(44)(45) for EA, and, on the other hand, older adults without limitations or physical damage may present them due to violent acts, whether reversible (17)(18)23,27,29,31,34,36,(39)(40)(41)(42) such as injuries (17,19,41) , injuries (29) and pressure injuries (40) , and/or irreversible (18,34,36,(41)(42) , such as functional disability (12,15) and HIV (19) .…”

Active Aging Policies Targeting Health and Care During the of COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review and Thematic Analysis of Italian National and Regional Policies

“…Older people are most at risk and the primary victims of the pandemic, given their increased likelihood of contracting the disease, becoming seriously ill, and eventually passing away (Lupu & Tiganasu, 2022; Mueller et al, 2020; OECD & European Commission, 2020). In addition to health and epidemiological risks, older people also experienced (as did the general population) temporary restrictions in mobility and social life, with negative effects on their physical, mental, and social well-being (Cunningham & O’Sullivan, 2020; Landry et al, 2020; Weissberger et al, 2022).…”

Effect of an elder abuse and self‐neglect intervention on repeat investigations by adult protective services: RISE project

“…8 In the absence of effective prevention strategies, the number of EASN cases is anticipated to grow due to factors including population aging, increased awareness of the issue, 9 and possibly from unanticipated events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. 10,11 Data from the National Adult Maltreatment Reporting System (NAMRS) shows that approximately half of victims receive some type of support from APS either during or after an investigation. 7 Types of APS support provided may include case planning or other brief crisis intervention services, 12 but these are not uniformly provided.…”

“…APS faces numerous challenges, such as growing caseloads, tight budgets, and caseworker burnout 8 . In the absence of effective prevention strategies, the number of EASN cases is anticipated to grow due to factors including population aging, increased awareness of the issue, 9 and possibly from unanticipated events, such as the COVID‐19 pandemic 10,11 . Data from the National Adult Maltreatment Reporting System (NAMRS) shows that approximately half of victims receive some type of support from APS either during or after an investigation 7 .…”