Prevalence of elder abuse: a narrative review

Elder abuse is a significant concern globally, affecting older individuals across diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. It represents a violation of human rights, challenging the fundamental principles of dignity, autonomy and respect for older adults. The World Health Organization defines elder abuse 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’ (Krug et al, 2002; Roberto, 2016; World Health Organisation, 2022a). Elder abuse, sometimes called elder mistreatment or elder maltreatment, can occur in community and institutional settings and includes psychological, physical and sexual abuse; neglect (caregiver neglect, self-neglect); and financial exploitation (Institute of Medicine, 2002; Dong, 2015; Roberto, 2016; World Health Organisation, 2022a; 2022b).

The World Health Organization (2022a; 2022b) and Yon et al (2017) estimate that one in six people aged 60 years and older experiences abuse annually. In institutions like nursing homes, the rates of abuse are higher, with two out of three staff reporting abuse in the past year (Yon et al, 2019; World Health Organization, 2022a; 2022b). The number of older people experiencing abuse is predicted to increase as a result of rapid population ageing, with the global population of people aged 60 years and older expected to double, from 1 billion in 2019 to about 2.1 billion by 2050 (World Health Organization, 2019; 2022a). Abuse can lead to serious consequences, such as premature mortality, physical injuries, depression, cognitive decline, poverty and placement in long-term care institutions. Despite its severity, abuse remains a low global priority (Lachs et al, 1998; Baker, 2007; Dong and Simon, 2013; World Health Organization, 2022a), receiving little attention (World Health Organization, 2012; Dong, 2017; Teaster et al, 2020; Yon et al, 2020) and resources (World Health Organization, 2012; Connolly and Trilling, 2014; Yon et al, 2020).