Multiethnic Perspectives on Elder Mistreatment

The concept of elder abuse is a relatively recent one, and there is ongoing debate around its definition and interpretation. Policy in America, the United Kingdom, and Ireland has been criticized as being professionally driven and therefore paternalistic and disempowering. Little is known about older people's understanding of the term "abuse" or the behaviors that they deem to be abusive. In this systematic review, eight databases were searched using agreed-upon criteria, and the results were assessed for relevance. Fifteen studies were included and are discussed under the themes of caregiving, domestic violence, society, abusive acts, and thresholds.

Section: Caregivingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Older People’s Conceptualization of Abuse: A Systematic Review

Killick

Taylor

Begley

et al. 2015

“…Ethnic elders' adherence to traditional values of financial inheritance is reported as a factor that may place them at higher risk for financial abuse (Lee & Eaton, 2009;Mouton et al, 2005). This cultural belief may cause an elder to interpret a situation of financial abuse from within a paradigm of family obligation rather than abuse (Rabiner, Brown, & O'Keefe, 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring Definitions of Financial Abuse in Elderly Korean Immigrants: The Contribution of Traditional Cultural Values

Lee

Eaton

2012

The purpose of this study is to explore the cultural definitions of financial abuse from the perspective of 124 elderly Korean immigrants and to examine the role of traditional cultural values in their definitions by using a mixed methods approach. The qualitative analysis generated four themes relevant to definition of financial abuse. A binary logistic regression indicated that those with stronger cultural adherence to traditional values had higher odds of providing culture-based definitions of financial abuse. Education is needed for health professionals, social service providers, and adult protective workers to increase their understanding of culture-specific experiences of financial abuse among ethnic minority elders.

“…Chang and Moon (1997) noted how elderly Korean Americans' concept of elder abuse was based on their cultural norms relating to family relationships, including expectations of family obligation and loyalty. Hudson et al (1999) and Mouton et al (2005) have highlighted the influence of social expectations in family relationships that became abusive. Further intercultural discussion is in Phelan (2013).…”

Section: Personhood or Societal Abusementioning

confidence: 99%

Older People’s Conceptualization of Elder Abuse and Neglect

Taylor

Killick

O’Brien³

et al. 2014

This qualitative study used data from eight focus groups involving 58 people aged over 65 years in both urban and rural settings across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Following training, four older people assisted in facilitation and analysis as peer researchers. Increasing lack of respect within society was experienced as abusive. The vulnerability of older people to abuse was perceived as relating to the need for help and support, where standing up for themselves might have repercussions for the person's health or safety. Emotional abusiveness was viewed as underpinning all forms of abuse, and as influencing its experienced severity. Respondents' views as to whether an action was abusive required an understanding of intent: some actions that professionals might view as abusive were regarded as acceptable if they were in the older person's best interests. Preventing abuse requires a wide-ranging approach including rebuilding respect for older people within society. Procedures to prevent elder abuse need to take into account the emotional impact of family relationships and intent, not just a description of behaviors that have occurred.