Contrasting perceptions of health professionals and older people in Australia: What constitutes elder abuse?

Abstract

Objectives: To explore the perceptions of family carers, older people and health professionals in Australia about what constitutes elder abuse. Methods: The Caregiving Scenario Questionnaire (CSQ) was disseminated to health professionals from two metropolitan hospitals, older volunteers and carers of older people with dementia recruited for other studies. Results: One hundred and twenty health professionals, 361 older people and 89 carers returned the surveys. χ2 analyses indicated that significantly more health professionals than older people identified locking someone in the house alone all day (χ2 (2) = 10.20, p=0.006, Cramer's V=0.14), restraining someone in a chair (χ2 (2)=19.984, p=0.0..