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Walsh CA, Dukart A, Roger K, Goodridge D. Disclosure and Reporting of Abuse Against Older Adults: Perspectives of Older Adults with Abuse Histories and Service Providers in Alberta, Canada. JOURNAL OF GERONTOLOGICAL SOCIAL WORK 2024; 67:444-473. [PMID: 38590169 DOI: 10.1080/01634372.2024.2339990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
This exploratory qualitative study seeks to understand the barriers and facilitators of disclosure and reporting of abuse against older adults by conducting interviews with older adults with lived experience of abuse and service providers working directly with this population in Alberta, Canada. Thematic analysis revealed three key themes: (1) Barriers to disclosure and reporting of abuse; (2) Facilitators to disclosure and reporting; and (3) Key tensions between service providers' and older adults' perceptions of the disclosure and reporting process. Based on these findings, we offer recommendations to increase awareness, promote disclosure, and improve services for older adults experiencing abuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine A Walsh
- Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Amber Dukart
- Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Kerstin Roger
- Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Donna Goodridge
- College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
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Ricoy-Cano AJ, Zambrano-Rodríguez CV, de la Fuente-Robles YM, Vásquez-Peña GE. Violence, Abuse and Neglect in Older Women in Rural and Remote Areas: A Scoping Review and Prevalence Meta-Analysis. TRAUMA, VIOLENCE & ABUSE 2024:15248380241234342. [PMID: 38433383 DOI: 10.1177/15248380241234342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
This systematic review addressed the issue of the abuse and neglect of older women (age 60 and over) in rural and remote areas, examining these phenomena's prevalence, risk and protective factors, consequences, and associated perceptions. Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and the Arksey and O'Malley methodological framework, peer-reviewed articles published until September 2023 were identified in six electronic databases. Out of the manuscripts initially identified (n = 219), 28 articles met the selection criteria. The study's quality was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. The included studies provided a comprehensive overview of this phenomenon, encompassing data from 6,579 older rural women. Prevalence rates of abuse and neglect exhibited wide variability, with an average of 27.3%. Among the risk factors, financial dependence and incapacity stood out, while higher income and education levels were protective factors, among others. Emotional/psychological abuse emerged as the most common form, with significant impacts on older women's physical and mental health. Cultural norms and gender expectations also influenced perceptions of abuse and victims' coping mechanisms. In a context in which access to specialized resources and services is hampered by significant limitations, community awareness and education prove vital to address this issue, which positions social work as key to addressing these challenges. The prevalence of abuse against older rural women is significant. Emotional abuse stands out as a major issue, underscoring the need for comprehensive interventions accounting for cultural and gender factors.
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Yalçın Gürsoy M, Uçan Yamaç S. Elder abuse, depression, anxiety, and stress in community-dwelling older adults. Psychogeriatrics 2024; 24:336-344. [PMID: 38237963 DOI: 10.1111/psyg.13079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/04/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Elder abuse as an important public health issue is associated in the literature with various physical and psychological symptoms. The aim of the study is to determine the relationship between elder abuse and depression, anxiety, and stress in the elderly living in the community. METHOD The cross-sectional study was completed with 729 older people. Data were collected through a face-to-face interview and a survey form. The Geriatric Mistreatment Scale (GMS) was used to evaluate elder abuse and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) was used to evaluate depression, anxiety, and stress. Multivariate regression analysis was performed to determine the relationship between elder abuse and depression, anxiety, and stress. RESULTS Of the participants, 20.9% were exposed to at least one type of abuse, 9.2% experienced physical abuse, 18.2% experienced psychological abuse, 4.4% experienced neglect, and 7.0% had financial abuse. The general prevalence of moderate to very severe depression, anxiety, and stress among the elderly was respectively 17.1%, 16%, and 10%. As a result of multivariate analysis it was determined that neglect (t = 6245; ß = 4952) and economic abuse (t = 3865; ß = 3350) had statistically significant effects on depression; psychological abuse (t = 2924; ß = 0,992), economic abuse (t = 3127; ß = 3517) and neglect (t = 5913; ß = 4810) had statistically significant effects on anxiety, while psychological (t = 5023; ß = 1756) and economic abuse (t = 5719; ß = 5238) had statistically significant effects on stress (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION As a result of the study, it was seen that the prevalence of abuse and depression, anxiety, and stress was high in the elderly. There was also a strong relationship between types of elder abuse and depression, anxiety, and stress. It is recommended that health professionals working with older people to screen them for types of abuse and mental symptoms with the help of appropriate screening tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melike Yalçın Gürsoy
- Health Sciences Faculty, Nursing Department, Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Çanakkale, Turkey
| | - Sabriye Uçan Yamaç
- Bucak Health School, Department of Midwifery, Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University, Burdur, Turkey
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Duffy A. Safeguarding adults at risk of abuse. Nurs Stand 2023:e12170. [PMID: 38221863 DOI: 10.7748/ns.2024.e12170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
Safeguarding adults at risk of abuse presents complex ethical challenges. By knowing what counts as adult abuse, recognising the signs of adult abuse and appropriately addressing suspected adult abuse, nurses contribute to protecting patients' safety, well-being, autonomy and dignity. This article discusses categories and indicators of adult abuse, relevant legislation and standards, the principles of adult safeguarding and the key elements of a nursing assessment of suspected adult abuse. The author highlights that nurses need to approach safeguarding concerns sensitively and strike a balance between acting to safeguard the person and preserving their right to autonomy. There is a need for ongoing education and training to enhance nurses' understanding of safeguarding practices, legislation, policies and standards.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anita Duffy
- Our Lady's Hospice & Care Services, Dublin, Republic of Ireland; adjunct lecturer in nursing, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Sciences, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
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Masoomi M, Hosseinikolbadi S, Saeed F, Sharifi V, Jalali Nadoushan AH, Shoib S. Stigma as a barrier to suicide prevention efforts in Iran. Front Public Health 2023; 10:1026451. [PMID: 36699938 PMCID: PMC9868841 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.1026451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Suicide and suicide attempt affect a considerable part of the general population, and in spite of their prevalence, the stigma associated with suicide remains an unsolved problem surrounding this important public health problem, especially in lower-income countries such as Iran. Evidence shows that help-seeking from formal mental health services for suicidal people is low in countries like Iran. Previous studies on Iranian survivors of suicide attempts have shown that these people experience fear of stigma due to labels such as loss of faith in God, having forms of severe mental illnesses ("madness"), and being involved in unaccepted sexual relationships. The associated stigma prevents them from seeking appropriate health and social services. Although both self-stigma and public stigma contribute to an unwillingness to seek mental health care and suicide prevention efforts in Iran, public stigma may be of greater consequence, significantly impeding an individual's likelihood of accessing care for their suicidal thoughts or attempts. In such circumstances, many people with suicidal thoughts miss out on social and formal support programs offered by social and healthcare providers. In this perspective article, focusing on the public stigma regarding suicide in Iranian society, we address the challenges and barriers to seeking suicide prevention efforts in Iran and discuss culturally appropriate strategies to improve the current situation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Masoomi
- Department of Psychiatry, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Fahimeh Saeed
- Psychosis Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran,*Correspondence: Fahimeh Saeed ✉
| | - Vandad Sharifi
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amir Hossein Jalali Nadoushan
- Mental Health Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, Psychosocial Health Research Institute, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sheikh Shoib
- Department of Psychiatry, Jawahar Lal Nehru Memorial Hospital, Srinagar, India,Sharda University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India,Mind Wellness Center, Srinagar, India
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Simmons J, Wiklund N, Ludvigsson M. Managing abusive experiences: a qualitative study among older adults in Sweden. BMC Geriatr 2022; 22:456. [PMID: 35619083 PMCID: PMC9137123 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-022-03143-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Elder abuse is prevalent, and is associated with poor health outcomes. How an older adult is affected by abusive experiences is dependent on myriad factors, including aspects of the abuse itself, other life circumstances, coping strategies, and what kind of help the older adults receive to manage the experience. In this study, we sought to investigate how older adults themselves describe how they manage abusive experiences. An increased understanding of this could help to tailor society’s response to older adults suffering from abuse. Method Participants (n = 30) were recruited from patients admitted to one acute geriatric and one acute internal medicine ward at a university hospital in Sweden. Patients over the age of 65 who reported experiences of elder abuse or who reported that they were still suffering from abuse that had occurred earlier in life were included. In-depth qualitative interviews were conducted, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results The analysis resulted in five themes, three pertaining to strategies used to manage abusive experiences (self-reliant coping, restoring dignity in relation to others, and needing formal and informal help) and two pertaining to the disclosure process (inner resistance to disclosure, and external barriers and facilitators for disclosure). Conclusion Older adults were found to use a combination of different strategies to manage abusive experiences. Some were self-reliant, but older adults often managed their experiences with the help of others. Health care professionals were generally in a position to facilitate disclosure, but some participants reported poor encounters with health care. The findings indicate a need to facilitate disclosure by, for example, training professionals on issues related to elder abuse and developing more easily navigated response systems that can respond to the complex needs of older adults trying to manage abusive experiences. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12877-022-03143-y.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Simmons
- Department of Acute Internal Medicine and Geriatrics in Linköping, and Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
| | - Nicolina Wiklund
- Department of Acute Internal Medicine and Geriatrics in Linköping, and Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Mikael Ludvigsson
- Department of Acute Internal Medicine and Geriatrics in Linköping, and Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.,Department of Psychiatry in Linköping, and Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
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Prevalence of elder abuse and its related factors in Iran: A community-based study. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s12144-022-03024-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Elder Abuse. Fam Med 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-54441-6_164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Barriers to Help Seeking among Victims of Elder Abuse: A Scoping Review and Implications for Public Health Policy in Canada. Can J Aging 2021; 41:460-475. [PMID: 34488912 DOI: 10.1017/s0714980821000295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Elder abuse is a serious public health concern requiring immediate intervention; however, the under-reporting of elder abuse by victims to formal and informal networks remains a major obstacle. This scoping review aims to identify barriers to help seeking that older adults experiencing abuse confront. The goal is to inform public policies and practices in the Canadian context and identify research gaps in the extant literature. Seven scholarly databases were searched from which 12 articles met the inclusion criteria and were extracted for analysis. The findings from this scoping review revealed three levels at which barriers exist: individual focused, abuser/family focused, and community/culture focused barriers. The results suggest that there are several complex obstacles that older adults face when contemplating disclosure of abuse. Future research into help seeking in the Canadian context should more readily incorporate the voices of elder abuse victim-survivors to develop effective assessment strategies and responsive service provisions.
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Thaggard S, Boon-Nanai J, Tautolo ES, Montayre J. Experiences of Elder Abuse in Pacific Island Communities of Aotearoa New Zealand: a Cultural Lens. JOURNAL OF POPULATION AGEING 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s12062-020-09318-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Dias ALP, Santos JDS, Monteiro GKNDA, Santos RCD, Costa GMC, Souto RQ. Association of the functional capacity and violence in the elderly community. Rev Bras Enferm 2020; 73Suppl 3:e20200209. [PMID: 33146269 DOI: 10.1590/0034-7167-2020-0209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Accepted: 06/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To analyze the relationship between the functional capacity of elderly community members and the sociodemographic and violence characteristics. METHODS Cross-sectional, epidemiological, analytical study with 159 elderly people. For data collection, a questionnaire was used for sociodemographic characterization; the Katz, Lawton and Brody scale; a questionnaire adapted from the FIBRA network; and the Conflict Tactics Scales, analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics using Pearson's chi-square test, Fisher's exact test and multiple logistic regression models. RESULTS It was observed that the sociodemographic variables influence the prevalence of functional dependence for basic activities of daily living and reduction in advanced activities in elderly people with psychological and physical violence. CONCLUSION The dependence of the elderly for basic and intermediate activities is related to characteristics such as advanced age, work exercise and knowing how to read and write. The participants' functional dependence can favor violent outcomes, whether physical or psychological.
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Dias ALP, Almeida AMD, Schveitzer MC, Souto RQ. Intervenções fisioterapêuticas direcionadas à pessoa idosa em situação de violência: uma revisão de escopo. REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE GERIATRIA E GERONTOLOGIA 2020. [DOI: 10.1590/1981-22562020023.200100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Resumo Objetivo Identificar as intervenções fisioterapêuticas direcionadas à pessoa idosa em situação de violência. Método Trata-se de uma revisão de escopo, em que foram acessadas as seguintes bases de dados/bibliotecas/buscadores e literatura cinzenta: BVS, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, CINAHL, PEDro, BDTD, OpenGrey, OpenThesis, RCAAP, Portal de Teses e Dissertações da CAPES, DART-Europe E-theses Portal e Theses Canada Portal. As buscas utilizaram os descritores e palavras-chave, que foram combinados por meio dos operadores booleanos OR e AND: Fisioterapeutas, Fisioterapia, “Physical Therapists”, Physiotherapy, “Physical Therapy”, “Physical Therapy Specialty”, “Physical Therapy Modalities”, Rehabilitation, Reabilitação, “Elder Abuse”, “Maus-tratos ao Idoso”, “Physical Abuse”, “Elder Neglect”, “Aged Abuse” e “Elder Mistreatment”. Resultados Dos 601 registros encontrados, 46 foram excluídos por serem duplicados, sendo selecionados 555 para leitura dos respectivos títulos e resumos. Foram excluídas 548 publicações por não se adequarem aos critérios de inclusão, sendo pré-selecionados 7 trabalhos. Pela estratégia Snowballing um foi identificado, originando um resultado final de 8 estudos. Conclusão As intervenções fisioterapêuticas direcionadas à pessoa idosa em situação de violência compreendem: educação em saúde, medidas no estresse do cuidador, recursos comunitários, rastreamento/triagem, avaliação, identificação, plano terapêutico/reabilitação e denúncia. Diante dos achados, observa-se que, apesar da lacuna no conhecimento dessa temática, o fisioterapeuta desempenha um papel imprescindível na condução de casos de violência contra a pessoa idosa.
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Alhalaseh L, Abu-Zanat A, Alsmairat M. Elder Abuse. Fam Med 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-0779-3_164-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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