Vulnerable Adults, Older People and Abuse

2014 ◽  
pp. 162-181
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Vulnerable Adults

scholarly journals 72 Adult Safeguarding, Abuse of Vulnerable Adults and Mandatory Reporting: A Rapid Realist Review of the Literature

2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. iii17-iii65
Author(s):  
Sarah Donnelly
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Realist Review ◽  
Mandatory Reporting ◽  
Professional Judgment ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Institutional Settings ◽  
What Works ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Vulnerable Adults ◽  
Rapid Realist Review

Abstract Background The continuing evolution of adult safeguarding legislation, policy and practice in relation to the abuse of vulnerable adults reflects a growing awareness of the nature and extent of such abuse in Ireland. The Adult Safeguarding Bill, 2017 represents a progressive step in safeguarding older people and vulnerable adults. The intention of the Bill is to put in place additional protections for adults, in particular, for those who may be unable to protect themselves, such as older people or those lacking capacity. Part 3 provides for mandatory reporting by specified/named persons/professionals. This paper sets out to critically analyse the concept of mandatory reporting within adult safeguarding using international comparators as case studies. Methods A rapid realist review of adult safeguarding reporting typologies and systems in five key jurisdictions: Australia, Canada, England, Northern Ireland and Scotland, were explored to answer the question: ‘what works, for whom and in what circumstances?’ [1] Results Jurisdictions differ as to who the mandated reporters are, the scope and powers of mandatory reporting, and the types of abuse subject to reporting. Of significance is that the debate on mandatory reporting has increasingly focused on institutional settings, rather than more broadly across services. Key concepts identified are those of protection, empowerment and proportionality. Adult safeguarding legislation must therefore ensure that interventionist and compulsory measures to protect do not excessively restrict the rights of the individual. Conclusion Mandatory reporting may offer professionals increased powers to prevent and reduce the abuse of adults and older people, but this could also change the dynamic of relationships within families, and between families and professionals. Ultimately, the success of any legal approach will rest with professional judgment in balancing autonomy with protection.

scholarly journals Financial abuse of older people by third parties in banking institutions: a qualitative exploration

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-22
Author(s):  
Amanda Phelan ◽  
Deirdre O'Donnell ◽  
Sandra McCarthy
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Financial Decisions ◽  
Financial Abuse ◽  
Bank Managers ◽  
Banking Institutions ◽  
The Republic ◽  
Additional Education ◽  
Qualitative Exploration ◽  
Vulnerable Adults

Abstract Financial abuse is a significant form of elder maltreatment and is frequently ranked in the top two most common forms of abuse perpetration. Despite this, it is under-identified, under-reported and under-prosecuted. Financial institutions, such as banks, are important environments for identifying and responding to the financial abuse of older people. Traditionally, banks have not always been part of inter-sectorial responses to financial abuse, yet are important stakeholders. The aim of this study is to explore perceptions and experiences of financial abuse in five national banks. Data were collected from 20 bank managers and five members of the National Safeguarding Committee in the Republic of Ireland. Using thematic analysis, four themes were identified: defining a vulnerable adult; cases of financial abuse of vulnerable adults; case responses to financial abuse of vulnerable adults; and contextual issues. The data demonstrate the multiplicity of manifestations and the complexity of case investigation and management. Findings point to the need to enhance banks’ responses, through additional education and training, and promote integrated inter-sectorial collaboration. In addition, a change in societal beliefs is needed regarding financial entitlement, responding to ageism, public awareness of the consequences of financial decisions and types of financial abuse, as well as ensuring such crimes are addressed within the legal system.

Public perceptions of the neglect and mistreatment of older people: findings of a United Kingdom survey

2007 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 919-940 ◽  
Author(s):  
SHEREEN HUSSEIN ◽  
JILL MANTHORPE ◽  
BRIDGET PENHALE
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Multivariate Analyses ◽  
Elder Abuse ◽  
Public Perceptions ◽  
Older Person ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Relative Prevalence ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Vulnerable Adults

ABSTRACTLarge surveys of the general population's perceptions of the neglect and mistreatment of older people are few. This article provides evidence about the public's awareness of ‘elder abuse’ at a time of considerable media and political interest in the subject in many countries. It presents the findings of a survey of 1,000 adults' knowledge of the neglect and mistreatment of older people in the UK. Descriptive and multivariate analyses were used to examine: variations in the perception of the existence of neglect or mistreatment of older people, the perceived relative prevalence of knowing an older person who had been subject to such experiences, the type and place of such experiences and knowledge of sources of help in such circumstances. The key findings are that older people believed that there is less neglect and mistreatment of older people than younger people, that women perceived more than men, and that there were regional variations in these perceptions. One-quarter said they knew an older person who had experienced neglect or mistreatment, and such reports were most likely among the middle aged and women. The most frequently reported locations of abuse were care homes and hospitals, and the most commonly reported form was inadequate or insufficient personal care. Most people said they would contact social services or paid carers if they encountered neglect or mistreatment. The findings are discussed in the light of increased policy attention to the safeguarding of vulnerable adults, and the implications for research, practice and campaigning organisations are considered.

The relativity of theory: applying theories of social psychology to illuminate the causes of the abuse of older people in care homes

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 89-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steve Moore
Keyword(s):  
Social Psychology ◽  
At Risk ◽  
Older People ◽  
Care Homes ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Fundamental Causes ◽  
The Social ◽  
Health And Social Care ◽  
Vulnerable Adults

Purpose Through the lens afforded by two theories drawn from the discipline of social psychology, the purpose of this paper is to explain the evident continuing abuse of adults at risk living in care homes by the staff who should be looking after them. Design/methodology/approach By considering existing theories and research into the reasons why vulnerable adults are abused the paper proposes the relevance of other extant theories on the degradation of moral restraint and dehumanisation of victims, and on the social psychology of intergroup relations, to the perpetration of abuse. Findings The paper demonstrates how theories that explain the psychology of human behaviour in certain circumstances may be usefully applied to the inveterate social problem of the abuse of vulnerable adults living in care homes. Practical implications The paper offers the opportunity for the reader to consider how these theories of social psychology may be applied to explain and guide remedies to the persistent levels of abuse in English care homes, abuse that continues despite government oversight of care provided to adults who may be at risk by virtue of the activities of the statutory regulator and health and social care commissioners, and the interventions of safeguarding personnel. Originality/value This is a conceptual paper from which future research and theorising may arise to better understand the most fundamental causes of the abuse of older people in care homes in order to develop feasible and effective measures to overcome it.

Sharpening Occam’s razor: developing theory to explain the persistent abuse of older people living in care homes

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-60
Author(s):  
Steve Moore
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Theory Development ◽  
Care Homes ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Fundamental Causes ◽  
Conceptual Paper ◽  
Conducting Research ◽  
Vulnerable Adults ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to discuss the relevance and importance of developing and making use of robust theory to explain and counter the tenacious social anomaly of the abuse of older people who live in care homes. Design/methodology/approach The activities of theorising and conducting research to gain revised theoretical comprehension of why abuse occurs in care homes, along with the enduring over reliance of those with an interest in safeguarding on existing theories borrowed from other fields to guide their activities are considered and discussed. Findings There is a pressing need for theory based understandings of the continuing abuse of older people and it is apparent that the development of such theory will be more productive if theorising and theory development are specific to certain types of abuse perpetrated in delineated settings. Practical implications The paper offers the opportunity for the reader to consider the significance of theorising and developing new theory in order to improve of the protection of potentially vulnerable adults by virtue of the guidance it can provide to the activities of policy makers, managers and practitioners. Originality/value This is a conceptual paper from which future theorising and research may arise to better understand the most fundamental causes of the abuse of older people in care homes (and elsewhere) in order to develop feasible and effective measures to overcome it.

The Care of Older People

1952 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 569-583 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Ian Macdonald
Keyword(s):  
Older People

Self and Meaning in the Lives of Older People

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter G. Coleman ◽  
Christine Ivani-Chalian ◽  
Maureen Robinson
Keyword(s):  
Older People

The Relationship Between Antioxidant Nutrient Intake and Cataracts in Older People

2006 ◽  
Vol 76 (6) ◽  
pp. 359-366 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodríguez-Rodríguez ◽  
Ortega ◽  
López-Sobaler ◽  
Aparicio ◽  
Bermejo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin C ◽  
Older People ◽  
Dietary Intake ◽  
Protective Effect ◽  
Elderly People ◽  
Nutrient Intake ◽  
Institutionalized Elderly ◽  
Weighing Method ◽  
The Relationship

This study investigated the relationship between the intake of antioxidant nutrients and the suffering of cataracts in 177 institutionalized elderly people (61 men and 116 women) aged ≥ 65 years. Dietary intake was monitored for 7 consecutive days using a "precise individual weighing" method. Subjects, who during their earlier years were exposed by their work to sunlight, had a greater risk of suffering cataracts (OR = 3.2; Cl: 1.1–9.3, P < 0.05) than those who worked indoors. A relationship was found between increased vitamin C intake and a reduced prevalence of cataracts (i.e., when comparing those above P95 for vitamin C intake with those below P5; (OR = 0.08; Cl: 0.01–0.75, P 0.05). Among subjects with cataracts, 12.1% had vitamin C intakes of < 61 mg/day (P10) and only 2.2% had intakes of > 183 mg/day (P95) (p < 0.01). Subjects who consumed > 3290 μg/day (P95) of lutein were less likely to have cataracts (OR = 0.086; Cl: 0.007–1.084; p < 0.05) than those whose consumption was < 256 μg/day (P5). In men, high intakes of zeaxanthin seemed to provide a protective effect against the problem (OR = 0.96; Cl: 0.91–0.99; p < 0.05). The results suggest an association exists between exposure to sunlight and the development of cataracts, and that vitamin C, lutein, and zeaxanthin offer some protection against this disorder.

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