FAMILY MEMBERS PERCEPTIONS OF AND ATTITUDES TOWARD ELDER ABUSE

The author examines the nature of the relationship between elders and their primary caregivers by comparing their attitudes toward the definition, criminalization, and treatment of elder abuse. Elder abuse was examined through the use of extensive interviews and mailed questionnaires. Data were collected from a random sample of noninstitutionalized elders and their caregivers. Results suggest that the perceptions of the two groups are quite similar; both elders and caregivers tend to define elder abuse in terms of neglect and to support the criminalization of elder abuse.