Economic-financial and patrimonial elder abuse: a documentary study

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Criminology
• Public Health

Background:

• Elder abuse, specifically financial and patrimonial exploitation, poses a significant threat to the well-being of older adults.
• Understanding the characteristics of victims and perpetrators is crucial for developing effective prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze economic-financial and patrimonial elder abuse cases recorded in a specialized police station in Northeast Brazil.
• To identify demographic factors associated with financial abuse victimization and perpetration.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study utilizing data from 555 police reports and inquiries.
• Descriptive and inferential statistics, including Pearson's chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, and multivariate logistic regression.

Main Results:

• Financial abuse accounted for 58.9% of cases.
• Older elderly individuals (67.9%), men (70.4%), and single individuals (75.0%) showed higher prevalence of financial abuse.
• Financial abuse occurred more frequently in public places (3.1 times higher than at home).
• Female perpetrators (73.5%), those without suspected alcohol use (66.4%), and non-family members were more likely to commit financial abuse (2.97 times higher likelihood).

Conclusions:

• Financial elder abuse is a growing concern, surpassing other forms of violence in magnitude.
• Further research is warranted to understand and prevent financial elder abuse effectively.