NCJ Number
102324
Date Published
1986
Length
325 pages
Annotation
Using case examples from clinical experience, this textbook explores the nature of elder abuse, examines why and how older adults are abused, and provides guidelines for detection and effective intervention.
Abstract
Analysis of the dynamics of an abusive situation demonstrates the complexities of elder abuse, the effort needed to resolve such cases, and frustrations typically encountered by practitioners. Types of elder abuse and neglect are reviewed, with attention to aspects in which elder abuse differs from child and spouse abuse. Among the causes advanced for elder abuse are physical and mental impairment, learned violence, and societal attitudes such as ageism and sexism, which create a climate for the maltreatment of older people. The book explains the Elder Abuse Diagnosis and Intervention (EADI) Model, offering specific protocols and questions to help the practitioner identify elder abuse. Factors that affect the choice of intervention method are discussed and three treatment modes are described: crisis intervention, short-term problem resolution, and long-term treatment including individual, family, and group therapy. The book considers legal intervention, ranging from the least restrictive to guardianships and criminal proceedings. Other areas covered include problems encountered by practitioners who provide protective services, emotional reactions to elder abuse, and burnout. Checklists, evaluation instruments, legal forms, and references.