NCJ Number
145107
Journal
Journal of Elder Abuse and Neglect Volume: 4 Issue: 3 Dated: (1992) Pages: 19-37
Date Published
1992
Length
19 pages
Annotation
Results from a survey provide information about public perceptions of elder treatment and mistreatment, past encounters with elder mistreatment, and past and future reporting behaviors.
Abstract
Three questions on elder treatment and mistreatment were incorporated into a November 1989 annual telephone survey among residents of Muncie, or "Middletown", IN. No respondents said that local elders get too much respect; 81.9 percent said elders do not get enough. A majority rated the tendency of the young to take advantage of the elderly as a somewhat (44 percent) or very (21.6 percent) serious problem. Most named the police department as the entity to whom they would report suspected elder abuse; 9 percent said a social agency or welfare department; 2.3 percent indicated an adult protective services agency; less than 2 percent mentioned an agency on aging, physician, minister, or the victim's family; and 13.4 could offer no comment. Past encounters with suspected elderly abuse were acknowledged by 14 percent; 41 percent of whom said they reported to local authorities. The most common reason for not reporting (53 percent) was uncertainty that the abuse was serious enough to warrant such action. 40 references