Elder abuse and neglect - social work intervention

In older people from CALD backgrounds, risk factors for abuse may include:

• Lower levels of acculturation.
• Living with non-family members or in an intergenerational household.
• Dependence on other adults to move about.
• Lack of ability to use simple technology (e.g. telephone).
• Lack of English proficiency.
• A degraded physical appearance such as self-neglect (Lewis, Sullivan & McBride, 2000).

Health practitioners should also look for other physical signs of abuse, and for other types of abuse (e.g., emotional abuse, sexual abuse, neglect by caregivers, self-neglect, financial exploitation or health care fraud and abuse). District Health Board staff should refer to DHB policies on Elder Abuse and Neglect Screening and Intervention.