Elder mistreatment: implications for public health dentistry

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Gerontology
• Dental Public Health

Background:

• Elder mistreatment is a growing public health issue impacting numerous older adults annually.
• Healthcare professionals often exhibit knowledge gaps in assessing, diagnosing, intervening in, and reporting elder mistreatment.
• The dental field is increasingly urged to conduct more research and establish professional guidelines for elder mistreatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the types and prevalence of elder mistreatment.
• To discuss variables that predispose individuals to elder mistreatment.
• To propose an ecological model for guiding interventions in elder mistreatment prevention.

Main Methods:

• Literature review on elder mistreatment types, prevalence, and predisposing factors.
• Development of an ecological model for intervention strategies.
• Focus on the role of public health dentistry in prevention.

Main Results:

• Elder mistreatment encompasses various forms and affects a substantial elderly population.
• Specific variables contribute to the risk of elder mistreatment.
• An ecological framework can guide multi-level prevention strategies.

Conclusions:

• Public health dentistry is well-positioned to address elder mistreatment through prevention.
• Comprehensive understanding and intervention models are crucial for combating elder mistreatment.
• Further research and policy development are needed in dental settings.