NCJ Number
216065
Date Published
2006
Length
17 pages
Annotation
This chapter presents an overview of how various countries, primarily in Europe, have developed in their awareness of and response to elder abuse and neglect and describes the work of the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA)
Abstract
The opening section of the chapter discusses the differing forms of elder abuse as defined by British government agencies. The discussion notes that policies regarding elder abuse should not only identify the various types of abuse but also the settings in which abuse may occur and the various roles abusers may have in their interactions with elderly victims. Another section of the chapter briefly discusses the consequences of elderly abuse, noting that the effects of abuse on older individuals can be particularly serious, since even minor injuries can cause permanent damage and require long-term recovery. A third section of the chapter provides an overview of the strategy used by the United Kingdom in responding to elder abuse throughout the country. The strategy involves the development of national guidelines for implementation within the distinctive contexts of local communities. This is followed by brief reviews of what is happening in various European countries regarding responses to elder abuse. The countries profiled are France, Germany, Norway, Israel (included within the European region of the INPEA), Belgium, Ireland, Greece, Poland, the Netherlands, Portugal, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, and Iceland. The section of the chapter on the work of INPEA lists its functions as promoting knowledge and awareness about elder abuse and neglect; disseminating information; stimulating research on elder abuse's causes, consequences, prevalence, treatment, and prevention; promoting education and training of professionals and paraprofessionals; and assisting in the development of responses to elder abuse and neglect in various countries. 21 references