Elder Abuse

Defining, Measuring, and Responding to Elder Abuse

One of the most difficult aspects of elder abuse research is the development of an integrated and acceptable definition of elder abuse. Because the problem is so vast and scholars from so many different [Page 607]disciplines examine various aspects of the problem, it is sometimes difficult to integrate the jargon from the various disciplines into one solid definition. Also, there was a tendency to search for parallels between child abuse and elder abuse in developing definitions of elder abuse. Research shows, however, that elder abuse is often more similar to spousal abuse than child abuse. Yet not all cases of elder abuse directly parallel cases of spousal abuse. Making it even more difficult to define is the fact that practitioners from vastly different areas responding to elder abuse tend to define it differently. In general, police officers tend to define elder abuse from a legal perspective, while social service providers define elder abuse from a moral or ethical perspective. These differences in definitions can have important repercussions for the ways in which individuals respond to elder abuse. Due to the problems arising out of vastly different definitions of elder abuse, researchers have asked social service providers and law enforcement officials to help in developing an integrated definition of elder abuse. Based on input from these groups, the following definition has been developed: “Elder abuse is any criminal, physical, or emotional harm or unethical taking advantage that negatively affects the physical, financial, or general well being of an elderly person” (Payne, Berg, and Byars 1999: 81).

Official estimates suggest that about one million individuals are victims of elder abuse each year in the United States alone. These estimates are believed to underestimate the true extent of elder abuse. Many cases of elder abuse are not reported to authorities because of fear of reprisal, the inability to report abuses, and fear that reporting will do more harm than good. For example, some victims worry that they will be placed in nursing homes or other long-term care settings if they report the abuse.

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