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Assessment of Dependence in Activities of Daily Living Among Older Patients in an Acute Care Unit
Published on: September 30, 2020
Elder abuse as a risk factor for hospitalization in older persons
1Rush Institute for Healthy Aging, Rush University Medical Center, 1645 W Jackson Blvd, Ste 675, Chicago, IL 60612, USA. xinqi_dong@rush.edu
JAMA Internal Medicine
|April 10, 2013
Summary
Elder abuse significantly increases hospitalization rates in older adults. This includes psychological abuse, financial exploitation, and neglect, highlighting the need for better social and health policies.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Public Health
- Social Sciences
Background:
- Elder abuse is a known risk factor for increased mortality.
- The association between elder abuse and healthcare utilization, particularly hospitalization rates, is not well-established in community-dwelling older adults.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between overall elder abuse and specific subtypes of elder abuse.
- To determine the impact of elder abuse on the rate of hospitalization in a community-dwelling population of older adults.
Main Methods:
- Prospective, population-based study utilizing data from the Chicago Health and Aging Project.
- 106 cases of elder abuse identified by social services agencies among 6674 participants.
- Annual hospitalization rates from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services analyzed using Poisson regression models.
Main Results:
- Reported elder abuse was associated with a twofold increase in hospitalization rates (Rate Ratio [RR], 2.00).
- Specific subtypes like psychological abuse (RR, 2.22), financial exploitation (RR, 1.75), and caregiver neglect (RR, 2.43) also showed significant associations with higher hospitalization rates.
- Individuals experiencing two or more types of elder abuse had substantially higher hospitalization rates (RR, 2.59).
Conclusions:
- Elder abuse is significantly linked to increased hospitalization rates in community-dwelling older adults.
- Findings underscore the need for further research into causal mechanisms and have implications for health policy and clinical care.
- Understanding these associations can inform interventions aimed at reducing healthcare utilization among vulnerable elderly populations.
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