This paper discussed intervention strategies
currently used by social workers at Home Care
Support Centers in a rural area in Japan. Elder
abuse is becoming increasingly recognized as a
serious social problem in Japan, given the high
rate of elders with chronic mental and physical
disabilities and the stress and burden that caregiving
poses on family members. It is important
to view abuse and mistreatment by family members
from a systemic perspective and not to
blame the family members for the abuse. Ongoing
relationships with caregivers and at-risk
elders can be established only by understanding
the predicaments of family caregiving situations
caused by factors that are often beyond the
control of the elder or the family members.