Open AccessViolence In Older Adults: Scope, Impact, Challenges, And Strategies For Prevention
Author(s) -
Tony Rosen,
Lena K. Makaroun,
Yeates Conwell,
Marian E. Betz
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
health affairs
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.837
H-Index - 178
eISSN - 2694-233X
pISSN - 0278-2715
DOI - 10.1377/hlthaff.2019.00577
Subject(s) - elder abuse , suicide prevention , gerontology , domestic violence , medicine , poison control , injury prevention , psychological intervention , autonomy , dementia , population , occupational safety and health , human factors and ergonomics , psychiatry , psychology , medical emergency , environmental health , disease , political science , pathology , law
Although often perceived to be a problem of the young, violence commonly affects older adults, a rapidly growing segment of the population. Violence can be directed toward older adults (elder abuse and intimate partner violence), self-directed (suicide), or perpetrated by older adults against others (intimate partner violence and violence in dementia). Across forms of violence, firearm access increases lethality, and veterans may be a particularly high-risk population. The forms of violence in older adults have some common risk factors (such as medical or psychiatric illness) and common challenges for prevention (such as balancing autonomy and well-being in vulnerable adults). The integration of prevention strategies across the life span, disciplines, and forms of violence offers promise for promoting older adult health and well-being. Looking forward, key areas for attention will include raising awareness about these topics and prioritizing funding for the implementation and evaluation of violence prevention interventions in health care settings and the community.