Environmental issues affecting elder abuse victims in their reception of community based services

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Social Work
• Public Health

Background:

• Elder abuse is a significant public health issue affecting community-dwelling older adults.
• Understanding service utilization patterns is crucial for effective intervention and support systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify key factors predicting service utilization among elder abuse victims.
• To analyze service acceptance and rejection based on individual, family, and environmental factors using the Andersen Model.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of data from 129 identified elder abuse victims.
• Application of the Andersen Model to examine predisposing, enabling, and need factors influencing service use.

Main Results:

• Service utilization was significantly predicted by victim's cognitive and ADL impairments, self-rated poor health, and abuser's financial dependence and caregiver status.
• Living alone (enabling factor) and abuser being a female substance abuser (predisposing factors) also influenced service use.
• Victims predominantly accepted services from agencies with a single entry point, trained staff, and case management.

Conclusions:

• Victim's health status, functional abilities, and specific abuser characteristics are critical determinants of service utilization in elder abuse cases.
• Integrated service delivery models with trained case managers are effective in supporting elder abuse victims.