Elder Abuse

What is elder abuse?

Elder abuse can be defined as "a single, or repeated act, or lack of appropriate action, occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust which causes harm or distress to an older person". Elder abuse can take various forms such as physical, psychological or emotional, sexual and financial abuse. It can also be the result of intentional or unintentional neglect.

In many parts of the world elder abuse occurs with little recognition or response. Until recently, this serious social problem was hidden from the public view and considered mostly a private matter. Even today, elder abuse continues to be a taboo, mostly underestimated and ignored by societies across the world. Evidence is accumulating, however, to indicate that elder abuse is an important public health and societal problem.

Elder abuse is a problem that exists in both developing and developed countries yet is typically underreported globally. Prevalence rates or estimates exist only in selected developed countries - ranging from 1% to 10%. Although the extent of elder mistreatment is unknown, its social and moral significance is obvious. As such, it demands a global multifaceted response, one which focuses on protecting the rights of older persons.

Approaches to define, detect and address elder abuse need to be placed within a cultural context and considered along side culturally specific risk factors. For example, in some traditional societies, older widows are subjected to forced marriages while in others, isolated older women are accused of witchcraft.

From a health and social perspectives, unless both primary health care and social service sectors are well equipped to identify and deal with the problem, elder abuse will continue to be underdiagnosed and overlooked.

What is WHO doing?

WHO's work to address the problem of elder abuse is based on the "Call For Action of the Toronto Declaration on the Global Prevention of Elder Abuse" that was adopted on 17 November 2002.

Document

Missing voices: views of older persons on elder abuse (2002)

Missing voices: views of older persons on elder abuse

This multicentric study in collaboration with partner institutions focuses on views and perceptions of older persons and of PHC workers on elder abuse through focus groups in eight developing and developed countries.

A CALL FOR ACTION

The Toronto Declaration on the Prevention of Elder Abuse (2002)

Based on the recommendations of the United Nations International Plan of Action adopted by all countries in Madrid, April 2002.

• English
  pdf, 693kb
• Spanish
  pdf, 694kb

Active Ageing Framework (2004)

This framework is aimed at PHC workers but also at carers as well as at social workers and legal systems to make them aware of elder abuse and increasing their capacity to deal with it.

• Publications on active ageing

New publications

• A global response to elder abuse and neglect: Building primary health care capacity to deal with the problem wor
  pdf, 3.94Mb

• Discussing screening for elder abuse at primary health care level
  pdf, 1.35Mb