UNDERSTANDING AND COMBATING ELDER ABUSE IN HISPANIC COMMUNITIES

A knowledge of the conditions associated with elder abuse and the mann er in which certain cultural factors influence the response to abuse c an provide the foundation for developing prevention and treatment stra tegies. This article describes elder abuse and domestic violence in th e context of Hispanic culture. Important aspects are examined: individ ual personalismo, la familia, communidad, and The Church as they apply to the older generations and to current cohorts that have not been ex posed to the majority culture for long periods. Combating abuse involv es recognizing and incorporating the cultural strengths of the Hispani c community and empowering the community to create a society where all peoples can live con dignidad.