Citation

Simmons J, Wiklund N, Ludvigsson M, Nägga K, Swahnberg K. J. Elder Abuse Negl. 2020; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

Department of Health and Caring Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/08946566.2020.1737614

PMID

32148186

Abstract

This study aimed to develop and validate REAGERA-S, a self-administered instrument to identify elder abuse as well as lifetime experiences of abuse in older adults. REAGERA-S consists of nine questions concerning physical, emotional, sexual, financial abuse and neglect. Participants were recruited among patients (≥ 65 years) admitted to acute in-hospital care (n = 179). Exclusion criteria were insufficient physical, cognitive, or language capacity to complete the instrument. A semi-structured interview conducted by a physician was used as a gold standard against which to assess the REAGERA-S. The final version was answered by 95 older adults, of whom 71 were interviewed. Sensitivity for lifetime experiences of abuse was 71.9% and specificity 92.3%. For elder abuse, sensitivity was 87.5% and specificity was 92.3%. REAGERA-S performed well in validation and can be recommended for use in hospitals to identify elder abuse as well as life-time experience of abuse among older adults.

Language: en

Keywords

Screening and assessment instruments; elderly; neglect; polyvictimization; violence