NCJ Number
176427
Journal
Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect Volume: 8 Issue: 4 Dated: 1997 Pages: 21-30
Date Published
1997
Length
10 pages
Annotation
A survey of 10 community nurses and home care workers providing home-based care for people 65 years of age and older who lived in rural areas in the northwest part of New South Wales found the type and prevalence of elder abuse in non-metropolitan areas was very similar to that in metropolitan areas.
Abstract
The survey was conducted in 1995 in local government areas covering the shires of Tamworth, Nundle, Walcha, Manilla, and Narrabri. Elder abuse was defined to include physical abuse, financial abuse, emotional-psychological abuse, neglect of basic needs, and self-neglect. Mail questionnaires were distributed to 20 nurses and home care workers to document client characteristics, living arrangements, health problems, forms of abuse, interventions offered, services accessed, and services required but not available. Of 598 clients visited during the survey period, 33 cases of abuse were identified; 15 cases involved emotional-psychological abuse, 12 cases financial abuse, 9 cases neglect, 9 cases physical abuse, 3 cases self-neglect, and 1 case violation of rights. The largest number of abused clients was in the 76-80 age range, and almost half lived alone. Twelve types of health problems were identified; about half of clients had one health problem and about a third had three or more health problems. The most common interventions offered to clients were respite care, meals-on-wheels, home care, and community nursing care. Areas of need included respite care and short-term and permanent hostel and nursing home accommodations. The complex nature of elder abuse and the right of elderly persons to live free of abuse, violence, neglect, and exploitation are discussed. 14 references