Elder abuse: prevalence, intervention and outcomes in patients referred to four Aged Care Assessment Teams.
OBJECTIVE
To establish the prevalence and patterns of elder abuse, and outcomes of intervention, among patients of four Australian Aged Care Assessment Teams.


METHODS
Descriptive study, with victims identified retrospectively from medical records for the first three months, and prospectively form the remaining nine months, of 1994.


METHODS
Four area-based Aged Care Assessment Teams in three States.


METHODS
Referred patients over 65 years of age who lived in private homes and who met a predetermined definition of elder abuse.


METHODS
Prevalence of abuse, types of abuse and the effect of interventions.


RESULTS
The overall prevalence of elder abuse in the study population was 1.2% (95% CI, 0.4%-2.0%). The rate identified retrospectively was double that identified prospectively. Psychological abuse was the most common form of abuse detected. Patterns of abuse were identified and related to psychopathology of the abuser (30%), dependency of the older person and carer stress (25%), domestic violence (19%), carer abuse (18%) and financial dependency (8%). Interventions and outcomes varied according to the pattern of abuse.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings on the factors causing elder abuse are consistent with those identified in previous Australian studies. The prevalence of elder abuse detected in this study was lower than that in other Australian and overseas studies. A more uniform approach to detection is necessary, which may be aided by improved identification and management techniques, and appropriate training of health professionals in aged care services in case definition, interventions and management.
Kurrle
S E
SE
Rehabilitation and Aged Care Service, Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital, Hornsby, NSW.
Sadler
P M
PM
Lockwood
K
K
Cameron
I D
ID
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D004552:Elder Abuse / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016330:Frail Elderly; D006701:Home Nursing; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012947:Social Work; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome