ELDERLY - WHO ARE THEY? (FROM POLICE AND THE ELDERLY, 1979, BY ARNOLD P GOLDSTEIN ET AL - SEE NCJ-60259)

• NCJ Number: 60260
• Author(s): W J HOYER
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 14 pages
• Corporate Author: Pergamon Press, Inc
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

AN OVERVIEW OF THE GROWING BODY OF GERONTOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE FOR USE BY POLICE AND OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE PERSONNEL CONCERNED WITH CRIMES AGAINST THE ELDERLY AND ELDERLY CRIMINALS IS PRESENTED.

Abstract

THE PROPORTION OF OLDER PEOPLE IN THE OVERALL POPULATION HAS MORE THAN DOUBLED SINCE 1900. IT IS EXPECTED THAT BY THE YEAR 2000 THERE WILL BE 30.6 MILLION AMERICANS OVER THE AGE OF 65. THE CHANGING DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE COUNTRY SUGGEST THAT THERE MAY BE A DECREASE IN VIOLENT CRIME AGAINST THE ELDERLY, AN INCREASE IN PREMEDITATED CRIMES SUCH AS FRAUD AGAINST THE ELDERLY, AND A POSSIBLE RISE IN THE NUMBER OF CRIMES COMMITTED BY THE ELDERLY. ALTHOUGH ONLY 14 PERCENT OF THOSE 65 YEARS OLD OR OLDER HAVE NO CHRONIC HEALTH PROBLEMS, 82 PERCENT OF THE ELDERLY POPULATION HAVE NO LIMITATION ON THEIR MOBILITY. ANNUAL MEDICAL COSTS FOR THOSE OVER 65 AVERAGED $1,360 IN 1975, COMPARED WITH $330 FOR THOSE UNDER 65. THE DEATH RATE FOR THOSE OVER 65 IS 61 PER 1000, COMPARED TO 4 PER 1000 FOR THOSE UNDER 65. MOST OLDER PEOPLE (84 PERCENT) LIVE IN A FAMILY SETTING AND 33 PERCENT LIVE ALONE. THE ELDERLY UNDERGO BIOLOGICAL AGING, CHARACTERIZED BY PHYSICAL DETERIORATION, INCREASED STRESS AND SENSORY CHANGES, AND CERTAIN PSYCHOLOGICAL CHANGES. THE AGING PROCESS IS UNIQUE FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL. POLICE SHOULD TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH OF THE ELDERLY WHEN WORKING WITH THEM. ALTHOUGH VICTIMIZATION STATISTICS SUGGEST THAT THE ELDERLY ARE VICTIMIZED LESS OFTEN THAN OTHER AGE GROUPS, EVIDENCE INDICATES THAT THIS SECURITY COMES AT THE COST OF INCREASED FEAR OF CRIME AND RESTRICTIONS ON THEIR FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT. THE ELDERLY ARE VULNERABLE TO FRAUD AND CRIMES BY JUVENILE DELINQUENTS. ELDERLY CRIMINALS IN THE U.S. ARE MOST LIKELY TO COMMIT CRIMES OF A PETTY, CONNIVING, OR PASSIVE NATURE. A VARIETY OF NATIONAL, STATE, AND LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS FOCUSING ON THE NEEDS OF THE ELDERLY ARE BRIEFLY DESCRIBED AND A LIST OF ORGANIZATIONS IS APPENDED. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (KCP)