Quantifying the problem of abuse and neglect in adults--analysis of a statewide database.
BACKGROUND
Mistreatment of adults, including abuse, neglect, and exploitation, affects more than 1.8 million older Americans. Presently, there is a lack of precise estimates of the magnitude of the problem and the variability in risk for different types of mistreatment depending on such factors as age and gender.


OBJECTIVE
To describe the universe of case reports received during one year in a centralized computer database maintained by the Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services--Adult Protective Services Division (TDPRS-APS).


METHODS
Descriptive.


METHODS
Texas.


METHODS
Mistreated or neglected older people.


METHODS
The distribution of abuse types reported and population prevalence estimates of each abuse type by age and sex.


RESULTS
There were over 62,000 allegations of adult mistreatment and neglect filed in Texas in 1997. Neglect accounted for 80% of the allegations. The incidence of being reported to the TDPRS-APS increased sharply after age 65. The prevalence was 1,310 individuals/100,000 > or = 65 years of age for all abuse types.


CONCLUSIONS
The TDPRS database is an excellent tool for characterizing and tracking cases of reported elder mistreatment. Achieving a clearer understanding of this ever-increasing public health problem can aid in the development of better interventions and prevention strategies.
Pavlik
V N
VN
Baylor College of Medicine, TX, USA.
Hyman
D J
DJ
Festa
N A
NA
Bitondo Dyer
C
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016208:Databases, Factual; D004552:Elder Abuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D006299:Health Services for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology