Nov-05

This report provides an analysis of data obtained from 1,288 referrals to 16 Age Concern New Zealand and Elder Abuse and Neglect Prevention services during the period 1 July 2002 to 30 June 2004. The report presents a discussion of the nature, context, prevalence and consequences of elder abuse and neglect. The analysis found that the most frequent type of abuse experienced by older persons was psychological abuse (59%), followed by financial exploitation (42%). The characteristics of abusers were examined, and the study revealed that sons and daughters are the most common perpetrators of elder abuse and neglect, followed closely by husbands, wives or partners. Institutional violence is identified as a significant contributory factor to the abuse experienced by older persons. Due to the dearth of research in the area of elder abuse and neglect, the author urges that further investigation is needed into abuse within residential settings, aspects of financial abuse, and the prevalence and incidence of elder abuse in New Zealand as a whole. Limitations of this study are acknowledged, particularly its lack of representativeness of the wider population.

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