Elder Mistreatment: Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation in an Aging America [Hardcover]

Panel to Review Risk and Prevalence of Elder Abuse and Neglect (Author), National Research Council (Author), Richard J. Bonnie (Editor), Robert B. Wallace (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0309084342 | ISBN-13: 978-0309084345 | Publication Date: December 20, 2002 | Edition: 1

Since the late 1970s, when Congressman Claude Pepper held widely publicized hearings on the mistreatment of the elderly, policy makers and practitioners have sought ways to protect older Americans from physical, psychological, and financial abuse. Yet, during the last 20 years fewer than 50 articles have addressed the shameful problem that abusers - and sometimes the abused themselves - want to conceal. "Elder Mistreatment in an Aging America" takes a giant step toward broadening our understanding of the mistreatment of the elderly and recommends specific research and funding strategies that can be used to deepen it. The book includes a discussion of the conceptual, methodological, and logistical issues needed to create a solid research base as well as the ethical concerns that must be considered when working with older subjects. It also looks at problems in determination of a report's reliability and the role of physicians, EMTs, and others who are among the first to recognize situations of mistreatment. "Elder Mistreatment in an Aging America" will be of interest to anyone concerned about the elderly and ways to intervene when abuse is suspected, including family members, caregivers, and advocates for the elderly. It will also be of interest to researchers, research sponsors, and policy makers who need to know how to advance our knowledge of this problem.

Editorial Reviews

Book Description

Since the late 1970s when Congressman Claude Pepper held widely publicized hearings on the mistreatment of the elderly, policy makers and practitioners have sought ways to protect older Americans from physical, psychological, and financial abuse. Yet, during the last 20 years fewer than 50 articles have addressed the shameful problem that abusers—and sometimes the abused themselves—want to conceal.

Elder Mistreatment in an Aging America takes a giant step toward broadening our understanding of the mistreatment of the elderly and recommends specific research and funding strategies that can be used to deepen it. The book includes a discussion of the conceptual, methodological, and logistical issues needed to create a solid research base as well as the ethical concerns that must be considered when working with older subjects. It also looks at problems in determination of a report’s reliability and the role of physicians, EMTs, and others who are among the first to recognize situations of mistreatment.

Elder Mistreatment in an Aging America will be of interest to anyone concerned about the elderly and ways to intervene when abuse is suspected, including family members, caregivers, and advocates for the elderly. It will also be of interest to researchers, research sponsors, and policy makers who need to know how to advance our knowledge of this problem.

About the Author

Richard J. Bonnie and Robert B. Wallace, Editors, Panel to Review Risk and Prevalence of Elder Abuse and Neglect, National Research Council

Product Details

• Hardcover: 570 pages
• Publisher: National Academies Press; 1 edition (December 20, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0309084342
• ISBN-13: 978-0309084345
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.4 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #363,370 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rampant Elder Abuse and Fraud Colored By Law: Guardianship!, September 28, 2004

By 

dropSoul "Christina" (Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Elder Mistreatment: Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation in an Aging America (Hardcover)

Reports of guardians stealing from their wards' bank accounts and other wise abusing guardianship powers are surfacing with disturbing regularity. 'This problem is going to get bigger and bigger,' says E. Bentley Lipscomb, AARP's Florida state director and a former state secretary of elder affairs. - GUARDIANS DRAWING INCREASED SCRUTINY, AARP Bulletin. Read also "The Retirement Nightmare" by Diane Armstrong. Get the real truth about the fraud and abuse of the elderly and not so elderly by a corrupt probate system and guardians. To avoid a guardianship in the State of Florida, and other states, should be of paramount importance. Find out how to protect yourself and your loved ones with alternatives: health care surrogate, durable power of attorney, mediation and more. Consider that if you leave your parents to fend for themselves, and ignore the deterioration associated with aging, a guardian can gain a guardianship over them and their assets, without informing you. That guardianship will nullify the most meticulous of plans.

4.0 out of 5 stars Well written and insightful, May 25, 2011

By 

Kara Chilcote "KCinSD74" (San Diego, Ca.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Elder Mistreatment: Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation in an Aging America (Hardcover)

The victimization of the elderly in our society is not a new phenomenon; however I believe with the influx of baby boomers coming into geriatric age, elder abuse will become more publicized (as it should) and more prevalent. Often the elderly are forgotten and taken advantage of; I think anyone who has an elderly person they care for and love should read this book. I work with elderly people and time after time my heart breaks at how neglected and exploited they often are. This book brings such mistreatment to light and aims to educate people on a population that is often ignored and crises that are discounted. I think they did an excellent job at analyzing and documenting this growing problem and its severity, and appreciate their efforts in doing so.