Types of abuse and risk factors associated with elder abuse.
- Simone L Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland.
- Wettstein A Head of expert committee Independent Complaints Authority for Old Age in the Canton of Zurich, Switzerland.
- Senn O Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland.
- Rosemann T Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland.
- Hasler S Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland; Department of Internal Medicine, Kantonsspital Winterthur, Switzerland.
- 2016-02-01
Published in:
- Swiss medical weekly. - 2016
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Dementia
Elder Abuse
Female
Health Services Needs and Demand
Human Rights Abuses
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Multivariate Analysis
Nursing Homes
Physical Abuse
Prevalence
Residence Characteristics
Retrospective Studies
Risk Factors
Social Isolation
Switzerland
Urban Population
English
PRINCIPLES
Detecting elder abuse is challenging because it is a taboo, and many cases remain unreported. This study aimed to identify types of elder abuse and to investigate its associated risk factors.
METHODS
Retrospective analyses of 903 dossiers created at an Independent Complaints Authority for Old Age in the Canton of Zurich, Switzerland, from January 1, 2008 to October 31, 2012. Characteristics of victims and perpetrators, types of abuse, and associated risk factors related to the victim or the perpetrator were assessed. Bi- and multivariate analysis were used to identify abuse and neglect determinants.
RESULTS
A total of 150 cases reflected at least one form of elder abuse or neglect; 104 cases were categorised as abuse with at least one type of abuse (overall 135 mentions), 46 cases were categorised as neglect (active or passive). Psychological abuse was the most reported form (47%), followed by financial (35%), physical (30%) and anticonstitutional abuse (18%). In 81% of the 150 cases at least two risk factors existed. In 13% no associated risk factor could be identified. Compared with neglect, elders with abuse were less likely to be a nursing home resident than living at home (odds ratio [OR] 0.02, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.00-0.19). In addition, they were more likely to be cohabiting with their perpetrators (OR 18.01, 95% CI 4.43-73.19).
CONCLUSION
For the majority of the reported elder abuse cases at least two associated risk factors could be identified. Knowledge about these red flags and a multifaceted strategy are needed to identify and prevent elder abuse.
Detecting elder abuse is challenging because it is a taboo, and many cases remain unreported. This study aimed to identify types of elder abuse and to investigate its associated risk factors.
METHODS
Retrospective analyses of 903 dossiers created at an Independent Complaints Authority for Old Age in the Canton of Zurich, Switzerland, from January 1, 2008 to October 31, 2012. Characteristics of victims and perpetrators, types of abuse, and associated risk factors related to the victim or the perpetrator were assessed. Bi- and multivariate analysis were used to identify abuse and neglect determinants.
RESULTS
A total of 150 cases reflected at least one form of elder abuse or neglect; 104 cases were categorised as abuse with at least one type of abuse (overall 135 mentions), 46 cases were categorised as neglect (active or passive). Psychological abuse was the most reported form (47%), followed by financial (35%), physical (30%) and anticonstitutional abuse (18%). In 81% of the 150 cases at least two risk factors existed. In 13% no associated risk factor could be identified. Compared with neglect, elders with abuse were less likely to be a nursing home resident than living at home (odds ratio [OR] 0.02, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.00-0.19). In addition, they were more likely to be cohabiting with their perpetrators (OR 18.01, 95% CI 4.43-73.19).
CONCLUSION
For the majority of the reported elder abuse cases at least two associated risk factors could be identified. Knowledge about these red flags and a multifaceted strategy are needed to identify and prevent elder abuse.
- Language
-
- English
- Open access status
- gold
- Identifiers
-
- DOI 10.4414/smw.2016.14273
- PMID 26827053
- Persistent URL
- https://folia.unifr.ch/global/documents/96651
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