Elder Abuse.

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Social Science

Background:

• Elder abuse is a significant public health issue affecting individuals over 60.
• Definitions and scope of elder abuse lack precise consensus in existing literature.
• Abuse manifests in multiple forms, including psychological, physical, sexual, and financial exploitation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive overview of elder abuse.
• To identify risk factors for victimization and perpetration.
• To explore characteristics of abusers and prevention strategies.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of existing literature on elder abuse.
• Analysis of definitions, types, risk factors, and prevention measures.
• Synthesis of data on the scope and characteristics of the problem.

Main Results:

• Elder abuse is broadly defined as maltreatment of individuals over 60.
• Identified risk factors increase susceptibility to abuse and likelihood of perpetration.
• Obstacles to elder abuse elimination and key prevention aspects were highlighted.

Conclusions:

• Elder abuse is a complex issue with multifactorial causes and consequences.
• Understanding risk factors and abuser characteristics is crucial for effective prevention.
• Further research and consistent definitions are needed to combat elder abuse effectively.