Hidden in the Shadows: Detecting and Addressing Elder Abuse

Elder abuse can be defined as “intentional or neglectful acts by a caregiver or ‘trusted’ individual that lead to, or may lead to, harm of a vulnerable elder.”¹ It is often a “hidden offence, often perpetrated against vulnerable people, many with memory impairment, by those on whom they depend.”²

Elder abuse is common, with one study suggesting that it may affect as many as 1 in 4 vulnerable older people.³ According to the National Council on Aging, approximately 1 in 10 Americans older than 60 years has been the victim of abuse, including physical abuse, psychological or verbal abuse, sexual abuse, financial exploitation, or neglect.⁴

Given the rapidly burgeoning population of older adults in the United States, the number of potentially abused elders is staggering: in 2015, older adults — defined as people age 65 years or above (47.8 million) constituted nearly 15% of the US population — up by 1.6 million from 2014.⁵ It is projected that by 2060, the number will reach 98.2 million, comprising nearly one-fourth of US residents⁵ as the “Baby Boomers” age and as life expectancy is expected to increase.⁶ Of these, 19.7 million will be age 85 years or older.⁵

Elder abuse can take place in both community and institutional settings; however, some research suggests that it is more common in the community.⁷ A 2000 survey showed that 60.7% of elder abuse took place in domestic settings, whereas 8.3% took place in institutional facilities.^{8  (Click to Continue)}


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Hidden in the Shadows: Detecting and Addressing Elder Abuse