Elder abuse
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Many older people experience some form of abuse in the home.
Elder abuse is a single or repeated act, or lack of appropriate action, occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust that causes harm or distress to an older person. Elder abuse includes physical, sexual, psychological, emotional, financial and material abuse; abandonment; neglect and serious loss of dignity and respect.
Key facts
National surveys conducted in predominantly high-income countries find wide variation in rates of abuse in the preceding 12 months among adults aged over 60 years, ranging from 0.8% in Spain and 2.6% in the United Kingdom to upwards of 18% in Israel, 23.8% in Austria and 32% in Belgium.
Elder abuse can lead to serious physical injuries and long-term psychological consequences, including depression and anxiety.
Elder abuse is predicted to increase as many countries are experiencing rapidly ageing populations.
Findings from the survey
Although public and professional inf...
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