Elder Abuse and Neglect

The world is in the throes of a demographic revolution. As the aging population increases, the incidence and prevalence of elder abuse and neglect are likely to grow. This book provides background and history on the global evolution of elder abuse and neglect, including qualitative and quantitative research. Healthcare entities, faith-based organizations and communities at large have the opportunity to develop educational strategies for prevention and intervention, and to provide guidance to the public on this emerging social and health issue. A unique feature of this book is the focus on faith communities and the role that clergy can play in heightening awareness, promoting increased knowledge, and modeling prevention and intervention strategies for their communities. Recommended areas for future study are provided including the following: establishing high-risk screening criteria for vulnerable older persons; launching university and seminary based education for stakeholders; and developing resources for data uniformity, consistency and expansion in an effort to advance research, policy analysis, benchmarking, and best practices.