title: Elder abuse and neglect in Ireland: results from a national prevalence survey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To measure the 12-month prevalence of elder abuse and neglect in community-dwelling older people in Ireland and examine the risk profile of people who experienced mistreatment and that of the perpetrators.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional general population survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Community.
  
  
  METHODS
  People aged 65 years or older living in the community.
  
  
  METHODS
  Information was collected in face-to-face interviews on abuse types, socioeconomic, health, and social support characteristics of the population. Data were examined using descriptive statistics and logistic regression, odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) are presented.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of elder abuse and neglect was 2.2% (95% CI: 1.41-2.94) in the previous 12 months. The frequency of mistreatment type was financial 1.3%, psychological 1.2%, physical abuse 0.5%, neglect 0.3%, and sexual abuse 0.05%. In the univariate analysis lower income OR 2.39 (95% CI: 1.01-5.69), impaired physical health OR 3.41 (95% CI: 1.74-6.65), mental health OR 6.33 (95% CI: 3.33-12.0), and poor social support OR 4.91 (95% CI: 2.1-11.5) were associated with a higher risk of mistreatment but only social support and mental health remained independent predictors. Among perpetrators adult children (50%) were most frequently identified. Unemployment (50%) and addiction (20%) were characteristics of this group.
authors: UCD School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems, UCD Health Sciences Centre, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland. corina.naughton@ucd.ie
authors: Corina
authors: C
authors: Naughton
authors: Jonathan
authors: J
authors: Drennan
authors: Imogen
authors: I
authors: Lyons
authors: Attracta
authors: A
authors: Lafferty
authors: Margaret
authors: M
authors: Treacy
authors: Amanda
authors: A
authors: Phelan
authors: Anne
authors: A
authors: O'Loughlin
authors: Liam
authors: L
authors: Delaney
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004552:Elder Abuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012944:Social Support; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D014478:Unemployment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data