scholarly journals What Are the Most Distressing Aspects of Experiencing Elder Abuse? Findings From a Qualitative Study With Victims

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 327-328
Author(s):  
Jessica Hsieh ◽  
David Burnes ◽  
Clara Scher ◽  
Paula Zanotti ◽  
Chelsie Burchett ◽  
...  

Abstract Adult protective services and other community-based agencies respond to hundreds of thousands of elder abuse cases annually in the United States; however, few studies include elder abuse victims’ voices. This study explored the most distressing aspects of elder abuse, as identified by victims themselves; to date, this is the first known study on this topic. Guided by a phenomenological qualitative methodology, this study conducted in-person, semi-structured interviews with a sample of elder abuse victims (n = 30) recruited from a community-based elder abuse social service program in New York City. To enhance trustworthiness, two researchers independently analyzed transcript data to identify key transcript codes/themes. Distressing aspects of elder abuse were identified across three key domains, related to feelings of loss (50% of codes), threats/negative consequences (55%), and client-needs/system incongruity (14%). Specifically, the first theme represented outcomes related to loss of relationships (19% of ‘loss’ codes), personhood (16%), credibility (19%), faith/trust in others (38%), and finances (8%). The second theme looked at threats to physical self (34% of ‘threat’ codes), psyche (39%), and others, including the perpetrator (27%). The third theme focused on mismatches in client/system goals (50% of ‘incongruity’ codes) and legal system involvement (50%). The findings in this study provide a comprehensive and conceptually organized range of aspects to serve as infrastructure for the development of meaningful interventions to address the needs of victims. This study represents one of the largest efforts to understand and integrate the perspectives and needs of victims into elder abuse intervention practice/research to date.

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S864-S864
Author(s):  
David Burnes ◽  
Jessica Hsieh ◽  
Clara Scher ◽  
Paula Zanotti ◽  
Chelsie O Burchett ◽  
...  

Abstract Adult protective services (APS) and other community-based agencies respond to hundreds of thousands of elder abuse cases each year in the United States; however, little is known about what constitutes success in the context of elder abuse response intervention. This study explored the meaning of elder abuse intervention success from the perspective of victims themselves toward the development of a victim-centric taxonomy of outcomes. Guided by a phenomenological qualitative methodology, this study conducted in-person, semi-structured interviews with a sample of elder abuse victims (n = 30) recruited from APS in the states of Maine, New York, and California, as well as a community-based elder abuse social service program in New York City. To enhance trustworthiness, two researchers independently analyzed transcript data to identify key transcript statements into themes. Outcomes of success were identified across broad domains related to the victim, perpetrator, victim-perpetrator relationship, family system, and home environment. Specifically, common themes represented outcomes related to victim safety, autonomy, social support, and state of mind; perpetrator independence and accountability; and victim-perpetrator separation. For decades, the field of elder abuse has struggled to understand how to define success in the context of community-based intervention from a client-centered perspective. The taxonomy developed in this study provides a comprehensive and conceptually organized range of successful outcomes to serve as infrastructure for the development of meaningful intervention outcome measures. This study represents one of the largest efforts to understand and integrate the perspectives and needs of victims into elder abuse intervention practice/research to date.


2020 ◽  
pp. 073346482093343 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Burnes ◽  
Alyssa Elman ◽  
Beatrice Marie Feir ◽  
Victoria Rizzo ◽  
Amy Chalfy ◽  
...  

A focus of community-based elder abuse response programs (EARP), such as Adult Protective Services, is to reduce the risk of revictimization among substantiated victims. While elder abuse (EA) risk factor research has predominantly focused on understanding the risk of initial EA onset among the general older adult population, understanding of revictimization risk among substantiated victims is weak. This study sought to identify conditions that perpetuate EA among substantiated victims. Data were collected from multiple sources: focus groups with multidisciplinary teams ( n = 35), multidisciplinary team case revictimization risk evaluations ( n = 10), and reviewing a random sample of case records ( n = 250) from a large EARP in New York City. Sixty-two indicators of EA revictimization risk were identified across several ecosystemic levels: individual victim or perpetrator, victim–perpetrator relationship, and surrounding family, home, community, and sociocultural contexts. Findings carry implications for EARP practices to reduce EA recurrence and the development of measures to evaluate EARP intervention.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 86-86
Author(s):  
Pamela Teaster ◽  
Cory Bolkan

Abstract Beginning in the United States in 2020, SARS-CoV-2 lead to unprecedented changes in the lives of both younger and older people. Efforts to mitigate the spread of the novel coronavirus, which included physical distancing and self-quarantine not only upended the lives of many people but also created natural laboratory conditions for the mistreatment of older adults. Exploring the mistreatment of older adults during the pandemic presented an unprecedented opportunity to examine perspectives of service providers and affected older adults. This symposium offers four perspectives on this subject. Dr. Karen Roberto and colleagues will present changes and challenges that COVID-19 brought for Adult Protectives Service staff and the vulnerable adults whom they serve. Ms. Lori Smetanka and colleagues will present changes and challenges that COVID-19 created for state and local Long-Term Care Ombudsman. Dr. Holly Ramsey-Klawsnik and Ms. Tammy Seaver will report on how the pandemic affected Nevada Adult Protective Services clients, casework, and staff. Finally, Dr. Pamela Teaster and colleagues will discuss how older adults experienced exploitation attempts during the early months of the pandemic. Dr. Cory Bolkan will begin the discussion, highlighting how conditions brought about by COVID-19 both enabled and thwarted efforts to address elder abuse.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 695-695
Author(s):  
Pi-Ju Liu ◽  
Bridget Penhale

Abstract Adult Protective Services (APS) is responsible for investigating reports of abuse, exploitation, and neglect among vulnerable adults. Additionally, APS also refers or provides needed services to victims. Though APS also takes the lead position in investigation and service planning, determining harm and designing person-centered remedies often require other professionals to be prepared to address these elder justice issues with APS. Afterall, adult safeguarding is everybody’s business. This symposium includes four presentations on researchers’ findings working with APS and other professionals. Dr. Burnes will compare outcomes on usual APS care (APS only) versus enhanced APS care (APS plus advocate who are case managers). Dr. Pi-Ju (Marian) Liu will examine nurses’ role in working in and with APS, focusing on how their job responsibilities are different from other nurses and APS social workers. Dr. Jason Burnett will present an innovative referral portal linking banks and other financial firms directly to APS. Lastly, Dr. Zachary Gassoumis will appraise the multidisciplinary teams across the country, including professionals involved, and provide input on what makes a team work well together. Following the four presentations, Dr. Bridget Penhale will open up the discussion regarding protective agencies’ operations and collaboration with other agencies, focusing on the comparison between protective agencies in the United States and European countries. Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of Elderly People Interest Group Sponsored Symposium.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Khamsavay Pasanchay

<p>In many developing countries, Community-Based Tourism (CBT) is regarded as a sustainable tourism development tool as well as a catalyst for rural community development through the involvement of local people and the improvement of the standard of living. To extend the involvement of the local community in CBT, homestay tourism is a form of operation unit and its concept aims to facilitate individual household social-cultural and economic benefit from CBT directly. Although homestays are widely regarded as providing better livelihoods directly to the homestay operators, it is not clear to what extent homestay operations actually contribute to the sustainable livelihood of homestay operators when considering the wider livelihood implications. This research seeks to explore this gap by analysing homestay operators through the lens of Sustainable Livelihood theory (Scoones, 1998). This research adopts a post-positivist paradigm with qualitative methodology. Taking a case study approach, semi-structured interviews and observations were employed to collect primary data from community leaders, heads and deputy heads of the tourist guides, and homestay operators themselves.  Results of the study found that although homestay tourism was initially established by the government. The study also found the main characteristics of the homestay operation are in a small size with a limitation of bedrooms, and a few family members involved in hosting tourists, which are husband, wife, and an adult child. All of these people are unpaid labour but receive benefits from the sharing of food and shelter. The study also uncovered that cash-based income, gender empowerment enhancement, and environmental enhancement were the positive impacts of homestay tourism on the livelihoods of the homestay operators, and these positive livelihood outcomes were in line with the original sustainable livelihood framework. In addition, cultural revitalisation was found as an emerged indicator of the sustainable livelihood outcomes, which was used to extend the revised framework. However, the study discovered that opportunity costs, culture shock, and conflict with villagers were negative implications affecting sustainable livelihood outcomes of the homestay operators. The revised Sustainable Livelihood Framework (SLF) suggests that if these negative implications are mitigated, the overall livelihood outcomes will be even greater. The results of this study are expected to provide a deeper understanding of how the impacts of homestay tourism on the sustainable livelihood of the homestay operators.</p>


2015 ◽  
pp. 195-213
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Bishop

This chapter discusses the recent findings of the Drop Knowledge Project in New York City (DKPNYC). The DKPNYC is a cultural studies research project designed to excavate the discourses of urban youth activism and organizing in relation to critical literacy learning. In this chapter, the authors look at the work of the DKPNYC youth activists around issues related to immigrant rights and educational justice in out-of-school spaces. Amongst the interconnected issues surrounding this work, the youth participants in the DKPNYC all organize around issues related to the struggle of undocumented youth to access quality education in the United States. Data collected from the study is decidedly cross-cultural, with participants articulating visions of themselves and their future in relation to their cultural heritage and their inter-subjective ethical learning. Implications from the study provide insight to educators, researchers, and community-based organizations about educating immigrant youth and others on pressing issues around immigrant learning.


Mahjong ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 162-186
Author(s):  
Annelise Heinz

During the years of depression, war, and postwar expansion, mahjong evolved in the United States and abroad, creating discrete national, regional, and community forms. In the 1940s, the wives of Air Force officers created their own version, which continued to spread across postwar bases. The most influential community adaptation by far was driven by the National Mah Jongg League. Over the ensuing decades, eventually hundreds of thousands of players, mostly but not exclusively Jewish American women, played their “National” version of the international Chinese game. The changes to the game that the League initiated were enabled by their proximity to the small factories making the tiles. The locus of mahjong manufacturing for the American market moved from China to plastic fabricating shops in New York City. As factories developed in concert with distinctive regional and community-based forms of the game, American mahjong grew into a domestic industry.


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