Elder abuse and neglect in Ireland: results from a national prevalence survey

TY - JOUR

T1 - Elder abuse and neglect in Ireland

T2 - results from a national prevalence survey

AU - Naughton, Corina

AU - Drennan, Jonathan

AU - Lyons, Imogen

AU - Lafferty, Attracta

AU - Treacy, Margaret

AU - Phelan, Amanda

AU - O'Loughlin, Anne

AU - Delaney, Liam

PY - 2012/1

Y1 - 2012/1

N2 - Objective: to measure the 12-month prevalence of elder abuse and neglect in community-dwelling older people in Ireland and examine the risk profile of people who experienced mistreatment and that of the perpetrators.Design: cross-sectional general population survey.Setting: community.Participants: people aged 65 years or older living in the community.Methods: information was collected in face-to-face interviews on abuse types, socioeconomic, health, and social support characteristics of the population. Data were examined using descriptive statistics and logistic regression, odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) are presented.Results: the prevalence of elder abuse and neglect was 2.2% (95% CI: 1.41-2.94) in the previous 12 months. The frequency of mistreatment type was financial 1.3%, psychological 1.2%, physical abuse 0.5%, neglect 0.3%, and sexual abuse 0.05%. In the univariate analysis lower income OR 2.39 (95% CI: 1.01-5.69), impaired physical health OR 3.41 (95% CI: 1.74-6.65), mental health OR 6.33 (95% CI: 3.33-12.0), and poor social support OR 4.91 (95% CI: 2.1-11.5) were associated with a higher risk of mistreatment but only social support and mental health remained independent predictors. Among perpetrators adult children (50%) were most frequently identified. Unemployment (50%) and addiction (20%) were characteristics of this group.

AB - Objective: to measure the 12-month prevalence of elder abuse and neglect in community-dwelling older people in Ireland and examine the risk profile of people who experienced mistreatment and that of the perpetrators.Design: cross-sectional general population survey.Setting: community.Participants: people aged 65 years or older living in the community.Methods: information was collected in face-to-face interviews on abuse types, socioeconomic, health, and social support characteristics of the population. Data were examined using descriptive statistics and logistic regression, odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) are presented.Results: the prevalence of elder abuse and neglect was 2.2% (95% CI: 1.41-2.94) in the previous 12 months. The frequency of mistreatment type was financial 1.3%, psychological 1.2%, physical abuse 0.5%, neglect 0.3%, and sexual abuse 0.05%. In the univariate analysis lower income OR 2.39 (95% CI: 1.01-5.69), impaired physical health OR 3.41 (95% CI: 1.74-6.65), mental health OR 6.33 (95% CI: 3.33-12.0), and poor social support OR 4.91 (95% CI: 2.1-11.5) were associated with a higher risk of mistreatment but only social support and mental health remained independent predictors. Among perpetrators adult children (50%) were most frequently identified. Unemployment (50%) and addiction (20%) were characteristics of this group.

KW - Adult

KW - Aged

KW - Aged, 80 and over

KW - Cross-Sectional Studies

KW - Elder Abuse

KW - Female

KW - Geriatric Assessment

KW - Humans

KW - Ireland

KW - Male

KW - Prevalence

KW - Social Support

KW - Substance-Related Disorders

KW - Unemployment

U2 - 10.1093/ageing/afr107

DO - 10.1093/ageing/afr107

M3 - Article

C2 - 21997767

SN - 0002-0729

VL - 41

SP - 98

EP - 103

JO - Age and Ageing

JF - Age and Ageing

IS - 1

M1 - N/A

ER -