Phase 3: Assaults Against the Elderly
Surprisingly little is known about the occurrence of domestic violence against elders in families for several rea sons. First, most studies do not distinguish between elder abuse and elder neglect. Second, families are unlikely to report the abuse because the responsible person is often ason or daughter. Third, many elderly people are homebound with no one around to see what is happening.
National estimates of the prevalence of elder abuse indicate that 1 out of every 20 senior citizens, or over 1.5 million older people, is a victim of elder abuse (Brownell, 1999). There is a lack of reserch in elder abuse and neglect. The fact that 13% of the nation's population is over the age of 65 and this figure will rise to almost 20% by the 2020s emphasizes the need for more research in this area.