Best Practice for Estimating Elder Abuse Prevalence in Australia: Moving towards the Dynamic Concept of 'Adults at Risk' and away from Arbitrary Age Cut-Offs. Issue 2 (1st November 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Moir, Emily; Blundell, Barbara; Clare, Joseph; Clare, Michael
• Is Part Of: Current issues in criminal justice. Volume 29:Issue 2(2017)
• Page Start: 181
• Page End: 190
• Publication Date: 2017-11-01
• Subjects: elder abuse -- older people -- age -- prevalence -- adults at risk -- policy -- Australia; Criminal justice, Administration of -- Periodicals; Criminal justice, Administration of -- Australia -- Periodicals; Criminology -- Periodicals; Criminology -- Australia -- Periodicals; 364.05
• DOI: 10.1080/10345329.2017.12036095
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1034-5329

Abstract

Abstract: In June 2017, the Australian Law Reform Commission ('ALRC') released the Inquiry on Protecting the Rights of Older Australians from Abuse. A national elder abuse prevalence study was a key recommendation to: (1) measure the extent of this problem within Australia; (2) help arrange availability and demand for resources, and responses delivered by statutory authorities and organisations; and (3) evaluate the effectiveness of services designed to prevent elder abuse (ALRC 2017). In the past, elder abuse prevalence research has relied on age 'cut-offs' to determine the older population and what proportion of this population has experienced abuse. This comment questions the validity of using static age 'cut-offs' in measuring elder abuse and suggests a move forward to dynamic measures of risk for adults in prevalence studies.