1996/10/01 by M. A. Hwalek, Melanie Hwalek, A. V. Neale +4 · 62 citations
Medicine · Psychology · Social Sciences · #Child abuse #Clinical psychology #Drug abuser #Elder Abuse and Neglect #Elder abuse #Intervention (counseling) #Medical emergency #Medicine #Neglect #Physical abuse #Poison control #Psychiatry #Psychological abuse #Psychology #Substance abuse #Suicide prevention
paper · pdf · doi:10.1093/geront/36.5.694
published in The Gerontologist 36(5), 694-700 (Oxford University Press)
openalex publication_date 1996/10/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29
This article explores the role of abuser substance abuse in 552 cases of substantiated elder abuse in Illinois. When the abuser was identified as having a substance abuse (SA) problem, the type of elder abuse substantiated was more likely to involve either physical or emotional abuse than neglect or financial exploitation. Abusers with SA problems were more frequently men and children of their victims, and less likely to be caregivers. Abuser SA was associated with victim SA. Cases involving abusers with SA problems were more likely to be evaluated by case workers as having a high potential risk for future abuse. Elder abuser case workers should be trained to identify both victim and abuser SA and appropriate intervention strategies.