Elder abuse research: a systematic review

Authors:
DALY Jeanette M., MERCHANT Mary L., JOGERST Gerald J.
Journal article citation:
Journal of Elder Abuse and Neglect, 23(4), September 2011, pp.348-365.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Place of publication:
Philadelphia, USA

The US National Library of Medicine defines elder abuse as emotional, nutritional, or physical maltreatment of an older person, generally by family members or by institutional personnel. The purpose of this study was to provide a systematic review of, and assign an evidence grade to, research articles on elder abuse. A review of health sciences literature including electronic database searches was used to identify English-language articles reporting completed research on abuse of people aged 55 years or older from any country. 590 publications (492 quantitative studies, 78 qualitative studies, and 20 case studies) were reviewed, annotated and graded. The article discusses the key findings, scope and limitations of elder abuse research. It notes that elder abuse research is minimal and difficult to discern across disciplines, and that none of the publications identified was given the top grade. A table providing details of 14 research intervention studies is included, and the article reports that the 590 annotated publications are available online at the Department of Family Medicine, Carver College of Medicine University of Iowa website.

Subject terms:
elder abuse;
Content type:
systematic review
Link:
Journal home page
ISSN online:
1540-4129
ISSN print:
0894-6566

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