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Elder Abuse - A Review of Recent Literature (From Elder Abuse - The Hidden Problem, P 71-81, 1980 - See NCJ-70828)

NCJ Number
70829
Author(s)
H O'Malley
Date Published
1980
Length
11 pages
Annotation
A review of literature on child and spouse abuse is used to bring a perspective to a review of the sparse literature on abuse of the elderly.
Abstract
Recognition of elder abuse within the family is at an earlier stage of development than research on child and spouse abuse. A few authors in England and the United States, most notably Steinmetz and Block, have raised the issue and are conducting primary research which should provide a better description of elder abuse. Others (Brody, Treas, Tuzil, Seilbach, and Johnson and Bursk) have described the changing relationship of the family vis-a-vis its oldest generation and the stresses such relationships may produce. As yet, however, little is known about elder abuse; what it is, how often it happens, who does it, to whom it happens, or what mixture of variables tends to occur in conjunction with the abusive act are not known. Until these issues are adequately explored, treatment modes will tend to follow those used in dealing with other forms of domestic violence, and adaptations to existing services and legal systems will likely be made in piecemeal fashion, if at all. Multidimensional explanations of child and spouse abuse (parental or spouse emotional deprivation as children, characteristics or perceptions of the child or spouse, and cultural influences and environmental stresses) are producing multidimensional treatment responses. It is likely that variables in elder abuse will emerge in the same dimensions, with treatment adaptations accordingly required. Definitions of abuse and neglect are provided from the literature, and a bibliography of approximately 60 references is supplied.

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