Division of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, New York, New York.
University of Toronto, Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, Ontario, Canada.
Gerontologist. 2018 Jul 13;58(4):719-723. doi: 10.1093/geront/gnw257.
Elder mistreatment is an epidemic with significant consequences to victims. Little is known, however, about another affected group: nonabusing family members, friends, and neighbors in the lives of the older victim or "concerned persons." This study aimed to identify (a) the prevalence of adults aged 18 and older who have encountered an elder mistreatment situation, (b) the proportion of these who helped the elder victim, and (c) the subjective levels of distress experienced by respondents who helped the victim versus those who did not.
Data were collected from a nationally representative telephone survey of 1,000 adults (18+). Multiple linear regression was used to test the relationship between "helping status" and personal distress attributed to an elder mistreatment, defined as someone aged 60 and older experiencing violence, psychological abuse, financial exploitation, or neglect by a caregiver.
Nearly 30% of adults knew a relative, friend, or neighbor who experienced elder mistreatment. Of these, 67% reported personal distress resulting from the mistreatment at a level of 8 or more out of 10. Assuming a helping role was associated with significantly higher levels of personal distress. Greater distress was also associated with being a woman, increasing age, and lower household income.
Knowing about an elder mistreatment situation is highly distressing for millions of adults in the United States, particularly for those assuming a helping role. We suggest intervention approaches and future research to better understand the role and needs of concerned persons.
虐待老人是一种对受害者有严重后果的流行病。然而，对于另一个受影响的群体，即老年受害者或“有关人员”生活中的非虐待家庭成员、朋友和邻居，人们知之甚少。本研究旨在确定：(a) 18 岁及以上成年人中遭遇虐待老人情况的比例；(b) 这些成年人中帮助老人的比例；(c) 帮助受害者的受访者与未帮助受害者的受访者的主观困扰程度。
从一项针对 1000 名成年人（18 岁以上）的全国性电话调查中收集数据。采用多元线性回归检验“帮助状态”与因虐待老人而产生的个人困扰之间的关系，定义为年龄在 60 岁及以上的人受到照顾者的暴力、心理虐待、经济剥削或忽视。
近 30%的成年人认识一个经历过虐待老人的亲戚、朋友或邻居。其中，67%的人报告说，由于虐待而产生了 8 分或 8 分以上的个人困扰。承担帮助角色与更高水平的个人困扰有关。更大的困扰也与女性、年龄增长和低收入家庭有关。
了解虐待老人的情况对美国数百万成年人来说是非常痛苦的，特别是对那些承担帮助角色的人来说。我们建议采取干预措施和未来的研究，以更好地了解有关人员的角色和需求。
