Elder abuse and neglect in Singapore

Abstract

This is a qualitative study that looks at elder abuse and neglect from the perspectives of the abused and/or neglected elderly, their caregivers and service providers in Singapore. The study examines the definitions, determinants of elder mistreatment at the individual, familial and societal levels and the barriers that deterred effective intervention. Marital, health, work and income status at the individual level, poor familial relationships at the familial level and negative perceptions of the aged at the environmental level were found to be contributing to elder mistreatment in Singapore. Negligent behavior of the adult children, intergenerational transmission of violence and self-neglect by the elderly were the most significant findings in this thesis, contrary to what have been found in previous studies in Singapore. Service providers reported that fear, dependency, shame, cognitive impairment and lack of public awareness were some of the barriers that deterred effective strategies with regard to elder maltreatment.