Elder abuse and neglect versus parricide.

Area of Science:

• Criminology
• Gerontology
• Sociology

Background:

• Elder abuse and family violence present challenges in recognition.
• In Russia, elder abuse receives limited attention in professional and media discourse.
• The distinction between elder abuse and parricide can be ambiguous.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the indistinct border between elder abuse and parricide.
• To analyze borderline cases involving older adults.
• To inform prevention strategies for parricide.

Main Methods:

• Case study analysis of three illustrative examples.
• Review of literature and media on elder abuse and parricide in Russia.

Main Results:

• Borderline cases include older adult involvement in substance abuse, denial of aid, and suicidal manipulation.
• Perpetrators of parricide may be mentally healthy or possess personality disorders.
• Parricide can manifest subtly, often unrecognized by victims and society.

Conclusions:

• Parricide prevention necessitates demystifying it as an exceptional crime solely committed by the mentally ill.
• Recognizing the varied presentation of parricide is crucial for intervention.
• Addressing elder abuse and parricide requires broader societal and professional awareness.