VALIDATION OF THE CAREGIVER ABUSE SCREEN (CASE)

This study explored the validity of the Caregiver Abuse Screen (CASE) as a brief measure of abuse/neglect of seniors. A group of abusive car egivers from the community was compared with two contrasting groups of non-abusive caregivers. The CASE distinguished between the abusive an d each non-abusive group, while the non-abusive groups did not differ from each other. Higher CASE scores coincided with higher scores on ab use/aggression measures from independent sources; with caregiver perso nality traits; with appraisals of poorer caregiver/care-receiver relat ionships and more care-receiver problem behaviours, poorer caregiver h ealth, more caregiver depression and less social support. Findings wer e interpreted as supporting the CASE's validity as an initial abuse sc reen for use with caregivers.