Public Perceptions of Elder Abuse - Global Action on Aging

structured
interviews
disease: Alzheimer’s
disease and
osteoporosis.
desire to help and express concern
when abuse was directed at an older
person with Alzheimer’s than an older
person with osteoporosis.
Hudson et al.
(2000)
Hussein et al.
(2007)
US
UK
An exploratory
study using
semi-structured
interviews
An exploratory
study using a
structured
telephone
interviews.
Measure public
perceptions <strong>of</strong> the
meaning <strong>of</strong> elder abuse,
identify significant
differences <strong>of</strong>
perceptions held by
defined groups <strong>of</strong> the
public, and identify
possible reasons for
those differences.
Examine the public’s
knowledge and
awareness <strong>of</strong> neglect
and mistreatment <strong>of</strong>
older people in the UK
A random sample <strong>of</strong>
adults
N= 424 Caucasian
Americans
Aged 40 years to 93
years
A representative
sample
N = 1000
519 females & 481
males
Aged 16 to 90 years
A total <strong>of</strong> 90% <strong>of</strong> respondents had
heard <strong>of</strong> ‘elder abuse’. Nearly eight
percent reported that they had
directly experienced elder abuse. Most
respondents deemed the
mistreatment <strong>of</strong> the elderly as
unacceptable. Only one incident <strong>of</strong>
yelling, swearing, slapping or hitting
was deemed to warrant the label <strong>of</strong>
elder abuse.
Older people believe that there are
less incidences <strong>of</strong> elder abuse than
younger people. One in four reported
that they knew an older person who
had been abused. Care homes and
hospitals were perceived to be the
most likely settings for elder abuse.
Participants reported that they would
be inclined to approach social services
or paid carers to report elder abuse.
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