Services Planned in Abusive Elder Care Situations

This study contrasted 96 physically abusive caregivers of elderly persons with 266 non-caregiver abusers and examined service plans for the two groups of victims and abusers. While elderly persons victimized by caregivers were offered home health care, case management, and adult day care at higher rates than victims of non-caregivers, less than 20% of the victims of caregivers were offered any of these services and 5% or less were offered outreach, counseling, and crisis intervention. Persons abused by caregivers were at particular risk of nursing home placement. Although 25% of the caregiving abusers and 34% of the non-caregiver abusers were reportedly alcoholic, only 3% in each group were referred for alcohol or drug treatment.