Citation

Burnes D, Rizzo VM, Gorroochurn P, Pollack MH, Lachs MS. J. Appl. Gerontol. 2014; 35(10): 1036-1057.

Affiliation

Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0733464814563609

PMID

25525162

Abstract

Elder abuse (EA) case resolution is contingent upon victims accepting and pursuing protective service interventions. Refusal/underutilization of services is a major problem. This study explored factors associated with extent of EA victim service utilization (SU). Data were collected from a random sample of EA cases (n = 250) at a protective service program in New York City. In cases involving financial abuse, higher SU was associated with females, poor health, perceived danger, previous help-seeking, and self or family referral. In physical abuse cases, higher SU was associated with family referral and previous help-seeking; lower SU was related to Hispanic race/ethnicity, being married, and child/grandchild perpetrator. In emotional abuse cases, higher SU was associated with self or family referral, victim-perpetrator gender differential, perceived danger, and previous help-seeking; lower SU was related to child/grandchild perpetrator.

FINDINGS carry implications for best practices to retain and promote service use among elder victims of abuse.

Language: en