Transcript 1

Abuse, Neglect and Violence against
Older Persons
Silvia Perel-Levin
Social Forum, Geneva, 2 April 2014
Types of abuse
1. Physical
characteristics
Examples
The infliction of pain or
Slapping, hitting, kicking, force-
injury
feeding, restraint, striking with
objects.
2.
Psychological/emotio
Verbal aggression or threat, threats of
Infliction of mental anguish
institutionalization, social isolation,
humiliating statements.
nal abuse
3. Financial/material
abuse
The illegal or improper
Theft of cheques or money, coercion to
exploitation and/or use of
deprive the older person of his or her
funds or resources
assets, such as forcible transfer of
property.
Suggestive talk, forced sexual activity,
4. Sexual abuse
5. Neglect
Non-consensual contact of
touching, fondling with a
any kind with an older
nonconsenting competent or
person
incompetent person.
Intentional or unintentional
Failure to provide adequate food,
refusal or failure of
clothing, shelter, medical care,
designated caregiver to
hygiene, or social stimulation.
meet needs required for
Types of abuse
characteristics
6. Societal abuse
Ageism, lack of appropriate pensions, discrimination
Alternative classification
Neglect
Violation
Deprivation
isolation, abandonment and social exclusion
of human, legal and medical rights
of choices, decisions, status finances and respect
WHO/INPEA 2002
Risk factors – ecological model
Societal
Societal
Community
Community
Relationshi
p Individual
Relationship
Individual
Ageism, wide Social isolation
Financial
Dementia
Dependence
discrimination Concentration of poverty
Emotional
Depression
dependence
Sexism, racismWidowhood
Living
Experienced
arrangements
abuse
Socio-economicWitchcraft accusationsLong-term
Aggression
abuse/violence
factors/concentration
Lack ofofsupport networks
Intergenerational
Dependence or
transmission?
disability
poverty
Erosion of intergenerational
Gender
relations
Inheritance systems/
Age
The extent of the problem
Latin America and the Caribbean
• 6 to 37% prevalence
Elder Abuse in India (20 cities)
• 31% faced abuse
• Over 50% during 4 years in multiple forms
• 24% almost daily
Helpage India, 2012
The extent of the problem, India
1.67% in Rajasthan to 77% in Madhya Pradesh
(Helpage India, 2012)
Sexual Violence in Eastern DRC
Age
Number
Percentage
< 15
252
5.9
16-24
809
18.8
25-34
841
19.5
35-44
988
22.9
45-54
752
17.4
55-64
211
4.9
> 65
458
10.6
Total
4,311
100
Prevention – ecological model
Societal
Societal
Community
Community
Relationshi
p
Relationship
Interdisciplinary action
Individual
Individual
Should primary health care workers
screen for elder abuse?
NICE- Canadian pocket tools
Tools for the police
• Elder Abuse risk
assessment
• Assessment and
intervention
reference guide
• Theft by persons
holding power of
attorney
Interventions
Safety
Autonomy?
INPEA
International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse
Established in 1997
• Raising awareness World Elder Abuse Awareness
Day (WEAAD) 15 June
• Education and training of professionals and
paraprofessionals in identification, treatment and
prevention
• Advocacy on behalf of abused and neglected elders
• Promote research into the causes, consequences,
prevalence, treatment and prevention of Elder abuse
and Neglect
Concluding remarks
Scientific rigour
humanistic model?
“Respect is better than food or drink”
An older respondent
WHO, 2002 Missing Voices