The UK national study of abuse and neglect among older people

Abstract

This article reports briefly on the first UK prevalence study (undertaken in 2006-7) of the abuse and neglect of older people living in the community. Older people living in the community who reported mistreatment and neglect (2.6 per cent) equate to about 227,000 of the population aged 66 years and over. If figures are broadened to include neighbours and acquaintances, prevalence increases from 2.6 per cent to 4.0 per cent. This article identifies risk factors of loneliness, depression and poor quality of life. It suggests that nurses have a key role in day-to-day clinical practice in enabling older people to report abuse and neglect.

Elder Abuse in Shiraz, Iran

“…Cooper reported that prevalence of psychological abuse was 25% (13). In another study in the United Kingdom the prevalence of psychological abuse was 0.4% (14).…”

Mortality and Disability Outcomes of Self‐Reported Elder Abuse: A 12‐Year Prospective Investigation

“…In a systematic review of community‐based prevalence studies up to 2006, prevalence estimates ranged from 3% to 27% . Other systematic reviews estimate prevalence at between 2% and 14%, with wide variations due to methodological differences (e.g., age, sampling, nationalities) …”

“…4 In a systematic review of community-based prevalence studies up to 2006, prevalence estimates ranged from 3% to 27%. 4 Other systematic reviews estimate prevalence at between 2% and 14%, 5,6 with wide variations due to methodological differences (e.g., age, sampling, nationalities). 4,7 An Australian population-based study of more than 12,000 women aged 70 to 75 estimated that 1% to 6% had experienced abuse, with psychological abuse the most common.…”

Elder Abuse Research: A Systematic Review

“…Eight major epidemiological studies estimated the prevalence of elder abuse in different countries. Overall prevalence rates of elder abuse have varied considerably across studies, from 2.6% in United Kingdom (Manthorpe, Biggs, McCreadie, et al, 2007), 3.2% in Boston (Pillemer & Finkelhor, 1988), 4% in Canada (Podnieks, 1992), 5.4% in Ahtari, Finland (Kivela, Kongas-Saviaro, Kesti, et al, 1992), 5.6% in Amsterdam (Comijs, Post, Smit, et al, 1998), 6.3% in a district of Seoul (Oh, Kim, & Kim, 2006), 8.8% in Britain (Ogg & Bennett, 1992), to 14% in Chennai, India (Chokkanathan & Lee, 2005). Rates were calculated for persons 65 years and older in all the studies except for Britain, where the age was 60 years and the United Kingdom, where the age was 66 years.…”