Abstract

The occurence of abuse in old age, the types and places of abuse, and the factors related to it were investigated by interviewing a population aged 65 years or over living in a semi-rural Finnish community. Three percent of the men and 9% of the women said that they had been abused after the age of retirement. Forty-six percent of the abused men and 75% of the abused women had been ill-treated by their spouse, child or other relatives. Friends and unknown persons were more often the abusers in the male cases (54%) but not in the female ones (22%). A common place for this abuse to occur was the elderly person's own home, both among the men (46%) and the women (82%); another 46% of the abused men said that it had happened in the streets, a shop, or an official building. Physical and psychological violence were the most prevalent types of abuse for both sexes. The abused individuals were characterized by poor health, lack of confidants, loneliness, poor satisfaction with life, and poor family relations.

Keywords

Elder abuseLonelinessSpouseMedicineVerbal abuseSuicide preventionPsychiatryPoison controlPopulationInjury preventionGerontologyPsychologyMedical emergencyEnvironmental health

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Year
1992
Type
article
Volume
4
Issue
3
Pages
1-18
Citations
71
Access
Closed

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Sirkka‐Liisa Kivelä, Päivi Köngäs‐Saviaro, Erkki Kesti et al. (1992). Abuse in Old Age-Epidemiological Data from Finland. Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect , 4 (3) , 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1300/j084v04n03_01

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DOI
10.1300/j084v04n03_01