scholarly journals Multicultural voices: attitudes of older adults in the United States of America about elder mistreatment

2012 ◽  
Vol 34 (5) ◽  
pp. 877-903 ◽  
Author(s):  
SUSAN M. ENGUIDANOS ◽  
MARGUERITE DELIEMA ◽  
IRIS AGUILAR ◽  
JORGE LAMBRINOS ◽  
KATHLEEN H. WILBER
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
United States Of America ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Elder Abuse ◽  
The United States ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Elder Mistreatment ◽  
Care Givers ◽  
Racial Ethnic

ABSTRACTDespite international growth in policies to increase the identification and response to elder abuse and neglect, there remain considerable barriers to treating the problem. Some of these barriers may be attributed to how older adults from different racial/ethnic backgrounds define, experience and seek to remedy elder mistreatment. Using focus group discussions based on case vignettes, this paper examines how older adults from different racial and ethnic backgrounds in the United States of America perceive elder mistreatment. Five focus groups were conducted with African Americans, English-speaking Latinos, Spanish-speaking Latinos, non-Latino Whites and African American care-givers for older adults. While similar definitions and meanings of elder abuse were expressed across the different racial/ethnic groups, Latino participants introduced additional themes of machismo, respect, love and early intervention to stop abuse, suggesting that perceptions/beliefs about elder mistreatment are determined by culture and degree of acculturation in addition to race/ethnicity. Most differences in attitudes occurred within groups, demonstrating that perceptions vary by individual as well as by culture. In identifying scenarios that constitute elder mistreatment, some participants felt that certain cases of abuse are actually the persistence of intimate partner violence into old age. Participants also indicated that victims may prefer to tolerate mistreatment in exchange for other perceived benefits (e.g. companionship, security); and out of fear that they could be placed in an institution if mistreatment is reported. Findings suggest the need for person-centred intervention and prevention models that integrate the cultural background, care needs and individual preferences of older adults.

Prevalence of Elder Polyvictimization in the United States: Data From the National Elder Mistreatment Study

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (21-22) ◽  
pp. 4517-4532 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joah L. Williams ◽  
Elise H. Racette ◽  
Melba A. Hernandez-Tejada ◽  
Ron Acierno
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Daily Living ◽  
Elder Abuse ◽  
The United States ◽  
Multiple Forms ◽  
Elder Mistreatment ◽  
The Past ◽  
States Data ◽  
Nationally Representative

Elder abuse, including emotional, physical, sexual, financial, and neglectful mistreatment is widespread in the United States, with as much as 11% of community-residing older adults experiencing some form of abuse in the past year. Little data exist regarding the prevalence of polyvictimization, or experience of multiple forms of abuse, which may exacerbate negative outcomes over that of any one form of victimization in isolation. This study evaluates the prevalence of elder polyvictimization among a nationally representative sample of community-residing U.S. older adults. Data from the National Elder Mistreatment Study were examined using bivariate and logistic regression analyses. Approximately, 1.7% of older adults experienced past-year polyvictimization, for which risk factors included problems accomplishing activities of daily living (odds ratio [OR] = 2.47), low social support (OR = 1.64), and past experience of traumatic events (OR = 4.81). Elder polyvictimization is a serious problem affecting community-residing older adults with identifiable targets for intervention.

Elder Mistreatment

2002 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 369-395 ◽  
Author(s):  
TERRY FULMER
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Elder Abuse ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
The United States ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Nursing Research ◽  
Elder Mistreatment ◽  
Replication Studies ◽  
New Research

Elder mistreatment (EM) is a serious and prevalent syndrome that is estimated to affect between 500,000 to 1.2 million older adults in the United States annually (Pillemer & Finkelhor, 1988). This chapter reviews both the state of the published science and limitations in the knowledge base on the topic. The literature for this review was obtained through computer-assisted searches of PubMed (878 citations), the Cumulative Index of Nursing Research (CINAHL) (593 citations) and Psych-Info databases (443 citations). The search terms used were elder mistreatment, elder neglect, elder abuse, or domestic abuse of the elderly. No limit was placed on the age of publications because of the relative scarcity of research on the subject. Nonnursing articles were included because there are so few nurse researchers addressing this topic. The age limit for subjects in these studies was 65 years and older. Studies were limited to those conducted in the United States, and descriptive studies were included as they form the majority of the research to date. Findings indicate that frail, very old (over 75 years), older adults who have a diagnosis of depression or dementia are more likely to be mistreated (Dyer, Pavlik, Murphy, & Hyman, 2000; Coyne, Reichman, & Berbig, 1993; Fulmer & Gurland, 1996; Lachs & Pillemer, 1995; Lachs et al., 1997; Lachs, Williams, O’Brien, Pillemer, & Charlson, 1998; Lachs & Fulmer, 1993; Lachs, Berkman, Fulmer, & Horwitz, 1994). Those older adults who required assistance with activities of daily living had poor social networks and were at higher risk for EM (Lachs & Pillemer, 1995; Lachs et al., 1997; Lachs et al., 1998; Lachs & Fulmer, 1993; Lachs et al., 1994). Neglect, as a subcategory of EM, accounts for the majority of cases (Fulmer, Paveza, Abraham, & Fairchild, 2000; Pavlik, Hyman, Festa, & Bitondo Dyer, 2001; Fulmer & Gurland, 1996). There is still debate regarding the role of minority status, abuse in childhood, and the persons most likely to mistreat older adults. There is a critical need for replication studies and new research on this important topic. Problems with measurement, funding challenges, and the paucity of investigators conducting research on EM have left the field with several unanswered questions and some conflicting findings. This chapter summarizes the interdisciplinary literature and makes recommendations for future nursing research programs.

scholarly journals Ageing-friendly communities and social inclusion in the United States of America

2012 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 110-136 ◽  
Author(s):  
ANDREW E. SCHARLACH ◽  
AMANDA J. LEHNING
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Capital ◽  
United States Of America ◽  
Social Inclusion ◽  
Basic Needs ◽  
The United States ◽  
Social Infrastructure ◽  
Significant Relationships ◽  
The Social

ABSTRACTSynthesising the social capital and ageing-friendly communities literature, this paper describes how efforts to make communities more ageing-friendly can promote social inclusion among older adults. Making existing communities more ageing-friendly involves physical and social infrastructure changes that enable older adults to pursue lifelong activities, meet their basic needs, maintain significant relationships, participate in the community in personally and socially meaningful ways, and develop new interests and sources of fulfilment. Such efforts can enhance bonding, bridging and linking capital, and thereby promote social inclusion. The authors discuss the link between ageing-friendly communities and social inclusion, and provide examples of programmes with potential to change existing communities into ones that promote the social inclusion of older adults.

Australian-Chinese families caring for elderly relatives

2012 ◽  
Vol 33 (8) ◽  
pp. 1401-1421 ◽  
Author(s):  
LIA BRYANT ◽  
SUZANE LIM
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
United States Of America ◽  
Filial Piety ◽  
Linguistically Diverse ◽  
The United States ◽  
Chinese Families ◽  
Care Givers ◽  
Scant Attention ◽  
Diverse Groups ◽  
Depth Interviews

ABSTRACTCaring for elderly relatives has predominately been explored from the standpoint of the needs and experiences of the hegemonic culture in multicultural countries like Australia, Canada and the United States of America. Australia, in particular, has paid scant attention to cultural and linguistically diverse groups in relation to caring for the aged. In this paper we focus on Chinese-Australian families caring for elderly relatives. We explore the traditional value of filial piety which is said to underpin social norms and beliefs about caring for aged parents in Chinese cultures. Specifically we draw on four in-depth interviews with Chinese-Australian care-givers of elderly relatives to identify meanings of filial piety and practices of filial piety. Findings indicate that while filial piety is still an important value in caring for the aged, meanings about how to practise filial piety are changing and vary across families.

Mission in Situations of Conflict and Violence in the United States of America

1992 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-31
Author(s):  
Jamie T. Phelps
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
United States Of America ◽  
The United States ◽  
Racial Ethnic ◽  
The Church

After defining conflict and violence, the author reviews the historic origins of the systemic racial, ethnic, and class violence which characterizes the patterns of relationships within many social and ecclesial institutions of the United States. This article suggests that the transformation of such socially sinful patterns must become a goal of the evangelizing and justice mission of the church within the United States.

scholarly journals Dementia Care in Diverse Older Adults in the U.S. Deep South and the Rest of the United States

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Maria Pisu ◽  
Roy C. Martin ◽  
Liang Shan ◽  
Giovanna Pilonieta ◽  
Richard E. Kennedy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Ethnic Groups ◽  
The United States ◽  
Deep South ◽  
Racial Ethnic ◽  
The U.S

Background: Use of specialists and recommended drugs has beneficial effects for older adults living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia (ADRD). Gaps in care may exist for minorities, e.g., Blacks, and especially in the United States (U.S.) Deep South (DS), a poor U.S. region with rising ADRD cases and minority overrepresentation. Currently, we have little understanding of ADRD care utilization in diverse populations in this region and elsewhere in the U.S. (non-DS), and the factors that adversely impact it. Objective: To examine utilization of specialists and ADRD drugs (outcomes) in racial/ethnic groups of older adults with ADRD and the personal or context-level factors affecting these outcomes in DS and non-DS. Methods: We obtained outcomes and personal-level covariates from claims for 127,512 Medicare beneficiaries with ADRD in 2013–2015, and combined county-level data in exploratory factor analysis to define context-level covariates. Adjusted analyses tested significant association of outcomes with Black/White race and other factors in DS and non-DS. Results: Across racial/ethnic groups, 33%–43% in DS and 43%–50% in non-DS used specialists; 47%–55% in DS and 41%–48% in non-DS used ADRD drugs. In adjusted analyses, differences between Blacks and Whites were not significant. Vascular dementia, comorbidities, poverty, and context-level factor “Availability of Medical Resources” were associated with specialist use; Alzheimer’s disease and senile dementia, comorbidities, and specialist use were associated with drug use. In non-DS only, other individual, context-level covariates were associated with the outcomes. Conclusion: We did not observe significant gaps in ADRD care in DS and non-DS; however, research should further examine determinants of low specialist and drug use in these regions.

scholarly journals Racial/Ethnic and Nativity Differences in Cognitive Life Expectancies Among Older Adults in the United States

2017 ◽  
Vol 59 (2) ◽  
pp. 281-289 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc A Garcia ◽  
Brian Downer ◽  
Chi-Tsun Chiu ◽  
Joseph L Saenz ◽  
Sunshine Rote ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
The United States ◽  
Racial Ethnic

Characterising older adults’ engagement in age-friendly community initiatives: perspectives from core group leaders in the Northeast United States of America

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-20
Author(s):  
Emily A. Greenfield ◽  
Laurent Reyes
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
United States Of America ◽  
The United States ◽  
Community Change ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Community Initiatives ◽  
Core Group ◽  
The Core ◽  
Group Members

Abstract Researchers and programme champions alike have identified older adults as key contributors to age-friendly community change efforts. There has been very little scholarship, however, to characterise the nature of older adults’ engagement in age-friendly community initiatives (AFCIs). To help address this gap, we drew on five waves of data from semi-structured interviews with core group members of eight AFCIs in a Northeast region of the United States of America. Interviews were conducted as part of a multi-year, community-engaged study on the development of philanthropically supported AFCIs. We iteratively coded segments of the interviews in which core group members described the involvement of older adults, as well as their efforts to engage older adults in the initiatives. This analysis resulted in an inductive-analytic typology with five qualitatively distinct categories, including older adults as: (a) consumers (receiving information, goods and services through the AFCI), (b) informants (sharing perspectives on ageing in the community with the core group), (c) task assistants (assisting with project-oriented tasks under the direction of the core group), (d) champions (contributing ideas and implementing action on their own initiative), and (e) core group members (holding primary responsibility for driving the work of the AFCI forward). We discuss implications of the typology for research on AFCI implementation and evaluation, as well as opportunities for AFCIs to enhance the engagement of older adults from historically marginalised groups.

Perceptions of inter- and intra-generational communication in the United States of America and the People's Republic of China: Implications for Self-Esteem and Life Satisfaction

1999 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 120-135 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kimberly A. Noels ◽  
Howard Giles ◽  
Deborah Cai ◽  
Lisa Turay
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
United States Of America ◽  
The United States ◽  
People’S Republic Of China ◽  
People's Republic Of China ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
Chinese Sample ◽  
Republic Of China

ABSTRACTThe present investigation examined older people's views on communication with younger and older adults to determine if older people's perceptions parallel research findings that suggest that young adults view intra-generational communication more positively than inter-generational communication. Additionally, drawing upon the Communication Predicament of Aging model (Ryan, Giles, Bartolucci, & Henwood, 1986), it considers how these perceptions relate to psychological health. In a first study, older and younger adults from the United States of America responded to a questionnaire survey about their experiences of talking to older and younger adults. The results of analyses of variance suggested that younger adults have less positive perceptions of inter-generational communication than older adults. Regression analyses examined the link between communication climate and psychological health indices, and suggested that psychological health is related to inter-generational and intra-generational communication variables for older participants. In a second study, variations in older adults' intra- and intergroup perceptions were compared across the United States and the People's Republic of China. Unlike their American peers, intergenerational communication was not a significant correlate of adjustment in the Chinese sample, although intragenerational variables were again implicated.

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