Elder abuse: prevalence, intervention and outcomes in patients referred to four Aged Care Assessment Teams.

OBJECTIVE

To establish the prevalence and patterns of elder abuse, and outcomes of intervention, among patients of four Australian Aged Care Assessment Teams.

DESIGN

Descriptive study, with victims identified retrospectively from medical records for the first three months, and prospectively form the remaining nine months, of 1994.

SETTING

Four area-based Aged Care Assessment Teams in three States.

PATIENTS: Referred patients over 65 years of age who lived in private homes and who met a predetermined definition of elder abuse.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prevalence of abuse, types of abuse and the effect of interventions.

RESULTS

The overall prevalence of elder abuse in the study population was 1.2% (95% CI, 0.4%-2.0%). The rate identified retrospectively was double that identified prospectively. Psychological abuse was the most common form of abuse detected. Patterns of abuse were identified and related to psychopathology of the abuser (30%), dependency of the older person and carer stress (25%), domestic violence (19%), carer abuse (18%) and financial dependency (8%). Interventions and outcomes varied according to the pattern of abuse.

CONCLUSION

Our findings on the factors causing elder abuse are consistent with those identified in previous Australian studies. The prevalence of elder abuse detected in this study was lower than that in other Australian and overseas studies. A more uniform approach to detection is necessary, which may be aided by improved identification and management techniques, and appropriate training of health professionals in aged care services in case definition, interventions and management.