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From Aging Wiki 17

Revision as of 20:08, 29 October 2011

Group #17

• 1. Kayla Sooley
• 2. Adam Jolin
• 3. Tom Jakobs

Elder Abuse Risk Factors

Gender and Elder Abuse

Most people believe that elder abuse occurs more commonly to elderly women by a younger male but the truth is that both men and women are both equally likely to be victims of elder abuse and anyone is capable of elder abuse^[1]. These gender biases have not been examined very often but are important in understanding elder abuse and implementing policies to stop elder abuse.

Victim and Gender

Men and women are both equally as likely to become victims of elder abuse but differ in what form of elder abuse is usually perpetrated against them. Men are more frequently abused financially and are more likely to be abandoned and neglected^[2] while women are more likely sexually abused^[3]. Research suggests that men are frequently financially abused because elder males usually have more money and resources than older women^[4]. Another piece of research suggests that men are more susceptible to financial abuse because males tend to feel lonelier and are drawn to any attachment that comes along^[5]. Men also tend to be a greater risk for financial abuse because men tend to be living with their spouse and children, which allows a greater opportunity for the abuse to occur compared to women who usually are widowed and living alone^[6][7]. It is less common to hear about an elderly male being abused than an elderly female. This occurs for two reasons:

• 1) gender stereotypes and biases that are built into our society cause people to perceive male abuse less serious than female abuse
• 2) men generally do not see the doctor as often as females which causes reporting by general practitioners harder to do.

In most Western societies today men are supposed to be the tough providers, while women are seen as weak and submissive. When a male does report that he is being abused many professionals do not take the claim seriously especially when the perpetrator is a female as elder abuse is commonly seen as a woman’s problem^[8] and men should be able to take care of themselves. Males also hold these biases and stereotypes towards themselves and are usually too afraid to speak out about the abuse that is happening to them because they believe people will see them as weak and feminine. Males and females also talk about abuse differently as a result of gender stereotypes. Since women often see their doctor more frequently^[9] they tend to be more comfortable with their doctor and better able to discuss any abuse that may be going on^[10]. Elder abuse has a greater chance of being detected in women by the general practitioner since the doctor will see the patient more frequently than a male^[11].

Perpetrator and Gender

Many people believe that males are more violent and aggressive than females in committing elder abuse. Females are generally expected to be nurturing and the caretakers of an aging relative or to be working in a home as a caretaker while men are supposed to be aggressive^[12]. Recent research shows that males and females both commit aggressive acts equally but the aggressive acts differ between male and female perpetrators^[13]. General practitioners and social workers tend to believe that perpetrators are usually male than female and are less likely to detect any abuse that may be occurring when the stereotypical gender roles are violated, which leads to an under recognition of female perpetrators^[14]. Gender bias can also be seen in the courtroom when elder abuse is going to trial. Generally, females are more likely to believe a victim and convict guilty than a male would^[15]. Women are also seen as more nurturing and are socialized to be on the lookout for criminals and “bad guys”, it is suspected that this socialization may cause women to identify with the victim more often which leads to more guilty verdicts of elder abuse. It is suspected that men do not convict the defendant as often because they may be more forgiving to aggressive actions especially when the perpetrator is male since men are supposed to be more aggressive in a Western society^[16].

Implications

Gender is an important factor to consider when discussing elder abuse or creating and implementing policies regarding elder abuse. Police, enforcement agencies and social workers should be made aware that female abusers of elders is not an unusual occurrence but is rather fairly typical, especially in the family home^[17]. This new awareness may allow a greater detection of elder abuse by female perpetrators, especially male abuse by a female perpetrator. A standardized policy should be implemented that allows for the same consequences for all cases of elder abuse since social workers are more likely to implement serious formal actions if the perpetrator is male and the victim is female. The attitude that males should have taken care of themselves causes many problems and usually leads to little actions taken by authority figures. The failure to take action by many social workers causes males to be continued to be abused and leads to males’ reluctance to disclose any future abuse or mistreatment that may occur^[18]. It is important to educate everyone about gendered expectations and biases that may affect court decisions, decisions to proceed with formal actions, and generally the ability to detect and prevent elder abuse from occurring. There should be a greater awareness that elder abuse does not always happen to females and that males are also likely targets of abuse especially financial. Elders themselves should also be educated in gender biases they may hold against themselves that may lead to a failure to disclose information about abuse and may cause males to believe they are immune from abuse. Both male and female elders should also be made aware of the types of abuse that may occur, who may perpetrate these crimes and what actions and services that may be out there for them. These preventive measures and simple education about gendered expectations should be included in training for doctors and social workers which may increase the ability for early detection of elder abuse of both males and females and allow for more serious formal actions to occur.

Mickey Rooney Speaks Out Against Elder Abuse

The following video depicts Mickey Rooney speaking out on elder abuse and encouraging all elders especially males to speak out about the mistreatment they experience after he himself was financially abused.

--Ks09bc 19:47, 24 October 2011 (EDT)

Cultural Impact on Elder Abuse

The following section will cover where race and culture fit into the problem of elder abuse. Topics addressed will include things like what minority groups or races may be reporting abuse, cross-cultural perceptions of elder abuse including how races rank the negativity of certain abuse over others and what cultures think is beneficial in dealing with abuse among others.

Who is Reporting Abuse?

To begin, research has pointed out that when comparing the ratio of minority groups to the general population, we can see that there is a substantial amount of abuse reports coming from groups such as African American and Hispanic minorities^[19]. In other words, consider if the population consisted of ten percent African Americans. One might suspect that the percentage of mistreatment reports by African Americans would reflect this ten percent of the population and be roughly the same. However, research points out that the percentage of these minorities reporting abuse is higher than their corresponding population size

Notes and References

1. ↑ Bell, B., Oyebode, J., & Oliver,C. (2004). The physical abuse of older adults: The impact of the carer’s gender, level of abuse indicators, and training on decision making. Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect, 16(3), 19-44.
2. ↑ Yaffe, M.J., Weiss, D., Wolfson, C., & Lithwick, M. (2008). Detection and prevalence of abuse of older males: perspectives from family practice. Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect, 19(1-2), 47-60.
3. ↑ Safarik, M.E., Jarvis, J.P., & Nussbaum, K.E. (2002). Sexual homicide of elderly females: Linking offender characteristics to victim and crime scene attributes. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 17(5), 500-525.
4. ↑ Canadian network for the prevention of elder abuse. (2009, April.24). Abuse of older men. Retrieved from http://www.cnpea.ca/abuse_of_older_men.htm
5. ↑ Canadian network for the prevention of elder abuse. (2009, April.24). Abuse of older men. Retrieved from http://www.cnpea.ca/abuse_of_older_men.htm
6. ↑ Dimah, A., & Dimah, K.P. (2002). Gender differences among abused older African Americans and African American abusers in an elder abuse provider agency. Journal of Black Studies, 32(5), 557-573.
7. ↑ Safarik, M.E., Jarvis, J.P., & Nussbaum, K.E. (2002). Sexual homicide of elderly females: Linking offender characteristics to victim and crime scene attributes. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 17(5), 500-525.
8. ↑ Yaffe, M.J., Weiss, D., Wolfson, C., & Lithwick, M. (2008). Detection and prevalence of abuse of older males: perspectives from family practice. Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect, 19(1-2), 47-60.
9. ↑ Yaffe, M.J., Weiss, D., Wolfson, C., & Lithwick, M. (2008). Detection and prevalence of abuse of older males: perspectives from family practice. Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect, 19(1-2), 47-60.
10. ↑ Dong, X., & Simon, M.A. (2010). Gender variations in the levels of social support and risk of elder mistreatment in a Chinese community population. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 29(6), 720-739.
11. ↑ Yaffe, M.J., Weiss, D., Wolfson, C., & Lithwick, M. (2008). Detection and prevalence of abuse of older males: perspectives from family practice. Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect, 19(1-2), 47-60.
12. ↑ Amstadter, A.B., Cisler, J.M., McCauley, J.L., Hernandez, M.A., Muzzy, W., & Acierno, R. (2011). Do incident and perpetrator characteristics of elder mistreatment differ by gender of the victim? Results from the national elder mistreatment study. Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect, 23(1), 43-57.
13. ↑ Bell, B., Oyebode, J., & Oliver,C. (2004). The physical abuse of older adults: The impact of the carer’s gender, level of abuse indicators, and training on decision making. Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect, 16(3), 19-44.
14. ↑ Bell, B., Oyebode, J., & Oliver,C. (2004). The physical abuse of older adults: The impact of the carer’s gender, level of abuse indicators, and training on decision making. Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect, 16(3), 19-44.
15. ↑ Golding, J.M., Yozwiak, J.A., Kinstle, T.L., & Marsil, D.F.(2005). The effect of gender in the perception of elder physical abuse in court. Law and Human Behavior, 29(5), 605-614
16. ↑ Golding, J.M., Yozwiak, J.A., Kinstle, T.L., & Marsil, D.F.(2005). The effect of gender in the perception of elder physical abuse in court. Law and Human Behavior, 29(5), 605-614
17. ↑ Amstadter, A.B., Cisler, J.M., McCauley, J.L., Hernandez, M.A., Muzzy, W., & Acierno, R. (2011). Do incident and perpetrator characteristics of elder mistreatment differ by gender of the victim? Results from the national elder mistreatment study. Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect, 23(1), 43-57.
18. ↑ Bell, B., Oyebode, J., & Oliver,C. (2004). The physical abuse of older adults: The impact of the carer’s gender, level of abuse indicators, and training on decision making. Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect, 16(3), 19-44.
19. ↑ Wolf, R., & Li, D. (1999). Factors Affecting the Rate of Elder Abuse Reporting to a State Protective Services Program. The Gerontologist, 39, 222-228.