Understanding Elder Abuse

As the baby boom generation reaches retirement age, mental health practitioners will increasingly be working with older adults, some of whom will have experienced abuse or are at risk of experiencing abuse. In this book, Shelly L. Jackson helps clinicians recognize possible elder abuse and respond appropriately.

Concise and accessible, this book familiarizes readers with essential aspects of the field of elder abuse, including risk factors and protective factors, the important roles of cognition and capacity, clinicians' legal and ethical obligations to report suspected or known elder abuse, and the function of adult protective services.

Readers will learn strategies to communicate effectively with older adults, screen for cognitive deficits, detect possible abuse, and work in tandem with adult protective services. Current and emerging interventions targeting older adults and their caregivers are reviewed, and future research needs are summarized.

Clinicians looking to begin or enhance their practice with older adults will find Understanding Elder Abuse an invaluable resource.

Series Foreword

1. Introduction and Overview of Elder Abuse
2. Risk and Protective Factors
3. Cognitive Capacity and Communication Challenges
4. Detection and Legal Obligations to Report
5. Working With the Adult Protective Services System
6. Elder Abuse Interventions

Afterword

Appendix: Online Resources

References

Index

About the Author

Shelly L. Jackson, PhD, is a visiting assistant professor in the Institute of Law, Psychiatry and Public Policy, Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences, at the University of Virginia.

As a developmental psychologist, Dr. Jackson began her career in child maltreatment. In 2006, she and her colleague, Thomas L. Hafemeister, received a grant from the National Institute of Justice to study whether and how different forms of elder abuse are distinct — a grant that launched her interest in elder abuse.

Dr. Jackson has since published numerous articles on elder abuse and frequently presents at professional conferences. Her teaching and research have focused on vulnerable victims (i.e., children, older adults, and incarcerated persons).

Dr. Jackson received her doctoral training in developmental psychology from the University of Vermont and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in psychology and law at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. In 1998, she was a Society for Research in Child Development Executive Branch Policy Fellow.

Older adults are a growing population, but their changing needs still receive little attention. This book fills an important gap in the field. In a clear, well-organized style, Jackson provides essential information on elder abuse and sound guidance on managing it in clinical practice.
—Sherry Hamby, PhD
Research Professor of Psychology, University of the South, Sewanee, TN; Editor, Psychology of Violence

From theory to practice, this book equips professionals with guidance on how to detect elder abuse and how to intervene. It is invaluable for practitioners and researchers alike.
—Peter A. Lichtenberg, PhD, ABPP
Director, Institute of Gerontology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI

In this timely book, Jackson tackles the increasing problem of elder abuse. Clinicians will find a concise guide to current trends and theories in elder abuse as well as practical suggestions for navigating these complex cases.
—Stacey Wood, PhD
Professor of Psychology, Scripps College, Claremont, CA