title: Understanding Service Utilization in Cases of Elder Abuse to Inform Best Practices.
abstract: Elder abuse (EA) case resolution is contingent upon victims accepting and pursuing protective service interventions. Refusal/underutilization of services is a major problem. This study explored factors associated with extent of EA victim service utilization (SU). Data were collected from a random sample of EA cases (n = 250) at a protective service program in New York City. In cases involving financial abuse, higher SU was associated with females, poor health, perceived danger, previous help-seeking, and self or family referral. In physical abuse cases, higher SU was associated with family referral and previous help-seeking; lower SU was related to Hispanic race/ethnicity, being married, and child/grandchild perpetrator. In emotional abuse cases, higher SU was associated with self or family referral, victim-perpetrator gender differential, perceived danger, and previous help-seeking; lower SU was related to child/grandchild perpetrator. Findings carry implications for best practices to retain and promote service use among elder victims of abuse.
authors.affiliation: University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada david.burnes@utoronto.ca.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Burnes
authors.affiliation: Binghamton University, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Victoria M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Rizzo
authors.affiliation: Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Prakash
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gorroochurn
authors.affiliation: Jewish Association Serving the Aging, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Martha H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Pollack
authors.affiliation: Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Mark S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Lachs
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D057237:Criminals; D004552:Elder Abuse / Q000208:ethnology / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice; D005190:Family; D005196:Family Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006077:Government Agencies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009519:New York City; D000066550:Physical Abuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012946:Social Welfare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012947:Social Work / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: Adult Protective Services; elder abuse; elder mistreatment; service utilization