ELDERLY VICTIMS OF FAMILY VIOLENCE AND NEGLECT

• NCJ Number: 68421
• Journal: Social Casework Volume: 61 Issue: 5 Dated: (MAY 1980) Pages: 296-304
• Author(s): E RATHBONE-MCCUAN
• Date Published: 1980
• Length: 9 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: THIS ARTICLE IS BASED ON A PAPER PRESENTED AT THE 11TH INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ON AGING, TOKYO, JAPAN, 23 AUGUST 1978.

Annotation

REPRESENTATIVE SITUATIONS ARE GIVEN THAT MAY NOT BE RECOGNIZED AS INTRAFAMILY VIOLENCE BY HUMAN SERVICES ORGANIZATIONS; PREVENTIVE STRATEGIES FOR THE AGED VICTIMS ARE PROPOSED.

Abstract

A SERIES OF CASE STUDIES DOCUMENTS VIOLENCE AGAINST ELDERLY FAMILY MEMBERS AND FORMS OF NEGLECT SUCH AS THE WITHHOLDING OF FOOD, WATER, SANITATION, OR OTHER NECESSITIES. SUCH BEHAVIOR SEEMS MORE PREVALENT IN FAMILIES HAVING HISTORIES OF VIOLENCE OVER SEVERAL GENERATIONS. ABUSING INDIVIDUALS WISH TO RETURN ABUSE RECEIVED FROM OTHERS; ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ARE OFTEN INVOLVED, AND THE OLDER PERSON IS PERCEIVED AS A BURDEN TO THE FAMILY UNIT. THE VICTIMS ARE USUALLY FEMALES OVER AGE 65 AND HAVE INADEQUATE FINANCIAL OR PHYSICAL RESOURCES TO CARE FOR THEMSELVES. CURRENT LEGAL AND SOCIAL SERVICES ARE ILL-EQUIPPED TO HANDLE SUCH CASES. OFTEN THE ONLY WAY AN ELDERLY PERSON CAN BE REMOVED FROM A HOME WHEN LIFE-THREATENING RISK EXISTS IS TO HAVE THE PERSON DECLARED MENTALLY INCOMPETENT. COMMUNITIES AND SOCIAL WORKERS MUST BE MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. ALTERNATIVE RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES NEED TO BE DEVELOPED TO COPE WITH SUCH SITUATIONS. MORE RESEARCH IS NEEDED. ONLY THEN WILL THE 'BATTERED PARENT SYNDROME' RECEIVE THE SAME AMOUNT OF ATTENTION AS THE BATTERED CHILD SYNDROME AND ONLY THEN WILL CREATIVE SOLUTIONS BE FOUND.