NCJ Number
178103
Journal
Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect Volume: 10 Issue: 3/4 Dated: 1999 Pages: 63-85
Date Published
1999
Length
23 pages
Annotation
This research examined definitions of elder abuse provided by respondents from four groups in Virginia who completed a survey designed to measure perceptions about the seriousness of elder abuse.
Abstract
The groups included 54 nursing home directors, 132 nursing home employees, 64 police chiefs, and 127 students enrolled in upper-level sociology and criminal justice courses. The first three sections of the survey included: (1) Likert-type statements prompting respondents to indicate whether they believe the media and the criminal justice system dealt fairly with criminal acts against older citizens; (2) questions asking respondents to rank the importance of various issues, such as health care and transportation, in the lives of older citizens; and (3 eight scenarios construed as elder abuse in which respondents were asked to recommend a sanction for the act. The last section of the survey requested respondent definitions of elder abuse. Results of standard thematic content analysis of elder abuse definitions showed significant differences in several areas. Nursing home directors were more likely to define elder abuse from an ethical perspective, whereas police chiefs and students were more likely to define elder abuse from a legalistic perspective. Implications of the findings for practitioners, researchers, and students are discussed. 55 references, 4 notes, and 5 tables