Gendered policies and practices that increase older men's risk of elder mistreatment.
We aim to detail some of the ways that social policy and gendered practices put older men at risk of elder mistreatment. Research on the abuse and neglect that older adults experience has often focused on the characteristics of the victims and the dynamics within families, emphasizing factors such as the likelihood of an intergenerational cycle of violence, substance abuse and dependency, and older men's financial status as key risks in elder abuse. The effect on men from this type of analysis is that elder mistreatment remains an individual or family problem rather than being viewed as a larger societal concern. This article challenges the individualistic focus by outlining the importance of societal forces affecting older men's risk of mistreatment.
Thompson
Edward H
EH
Gerontology Studies Program, College of the Holy Cross, 1 College St, Worcester, MA 01610-2395, USA. ethompson@holycross.edu
Buxton
William
W
Gough
P Casey
PC
Wahle
Cara
C
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D004552:Elder Abuse / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006291:Health Policy; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D054526:Men's Health / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D012107:Research Design; D012737:Sex Factors; D014481:United States; D035862:Vulnerable Populations / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*