Barriers and Facilitators to Help-Seeking for Elder Abuse
Author Information
Author(s): MacNeil Andie, Hsieh Jessica, Rollandi Isabel, Sirey Jo Anne, Lachs Mark, Burnes David
Primary Institution: University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, United States
Hypothesis
What are the barriers and facilitators to help-seeking from the perspective of elder abuse victims?
Conclusion
The study found that various psychological, emotional, relational, and familial factors influence help-seeking behavior among elder abuse victims.
Supporting Evidence
- Most elder abuse victims are not connected with formal response systems.
- Barriers to help-seeking include embarrassment, fear of retaliation, and lack of awareness of services.
- Facilitators include reaching a tipping point and having knowledge about support services.
Takeaway
Elder abuse victims often feel too ashamed or scared to ask for help, but knowing where to go for support can make a big difference.
Methodology
The study used a descriptive phenomenological approach with in-depth qualitative interviews.
Participant Demographics
Elder abuse victims living in New York City and Los Angeles, United States.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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