title: Older women's perceptions of elder maltreatment and ethical dilemmas in adult protective services: a cross-cultural, exploratory study.
abstract: In this study, older African American, Latina, and Caucasian women from varying socioeconomic backgrounds participated in eight focus groups that examined their perceptions of elder maltreatment and three ethical dilemmas within adult protective service work: mandatory reporting, involuntary protective services, and criminalization of elder maltreatment. Participants espoused a broad and inclusive view of elder maltreatment. In responding to illustrative case scenarios, participants strongly favored protection over freedom by supporting mandatory reporting and involuntary protective services. Criminalization of elder maltreatment also was supported. This article presents results of each scenario and broad themes across the study, with attention paid to areas of consistency and difference across ethnicity and socioeconomic categories.
authors.affiliation: College of Applied Human Sciences, School of Social Work, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523-1586, USA. dakin@cahs.colostate.edu
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dakin
authors.forename: Sue
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pearlmutter
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D004552:Elder Abuse / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D019221:Mandatory Reporting; D008875:Middle Aged; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*