Abuse and neglect of elderly in families

Citation
S. Srinivas et B. Vijayalakshmi, Abuse and neglect of elderly in families, I J SOC WOR, 62(3), 2001, pp. 464-479
Citations number
22
Categorie Soggetti
Social Work & Social Policy
Journal title
INDIAN JOURNAL OF SOCIAL WORK
ISSN journal
00195634 → ACNP
Volume
62
Issue
3
Year of publication
2001
Pages
464 - 479
Database
ISI
SICI code
0019-5634(200107)62:3<464:AANOEI>2.0.ZU;2-L
Abstract
Data were gathered from a quota sample of 140 elderly subjected to abuse an d/or neglect by their family members. The respondents included both men and women living in Visakhapatnam city. The patterns of abuse of the elderly w ere measured using a modified form of the Conflict Tactics Scale (Straus, 1 979). The results indicate that the most likely victims of elder abuse are widowed women, elderly with poor economic back ground, and dependent. As re gards the forms of abuse, verbal abuse of the elderly was reported more fre quently followed by material abuse and neglect. A sizeable portion of the r espondents have reported physical abuse. It was also found that abuse has n egative implications-social, psychological and behavioural. for the elderly . Further, the data indicated that the son, the daughter-in-law and the spo use in that order are the frequently reported abusers. It is recommended th at programmes should be designed to provide adequate opportunities for part icipation of the elderly, to reduce social isolation and to provide support services to families caring for the elderly to help reduce stress of the c aregivers.