Explore the vast range of titles available.

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND Financial exploitation is the most common and least studied form of elder abuse. Previous research estimating the prevalence of financial exploitation of older adults (FEOA) is limited by a broader emphasis on traditional forms of elder mistreatment (e.g., physical, sexual, emotional abuse/neglect). OBJECTIVES 1) estimate the one-year period prevalence and lifetime prevalence of FEOA; 2) describe major FEOA types; and 3) identify factors associated with FEOA. DESIGN Prevalence study with a random, stratified probability sample. PARTICIPANTS Four thousand, one hundred and fifty-six community-dwelling, cognitively intact adults age ≥ 60 years. SETTING New York State. MAIN MEASURES Comprehensive tool developed for this study measured five FEOA domains: 1) stolen or misappropriated money/property; 2) coercion resulting in surrendering rights/property; 3) impersonation to obtain property/services; 4) inadequate contributions toward household expenses, but respondent still had enough money for necessities and 5) respondent was destitute and did not receive necessary assistance from family/friends. KEY RESULTS One-year period FEOA prevalence was 2.7 % (95 % CI, 2.29–3.29) and lifetime prevalence was 4.7 % (95 % CI, 4.05–5.34). Greater relative risk (RR) of one-year period prevalence was associated with African American/black race (RR, 3.80; 95 % CI, 1.11–13.04), poverty (RR, 1.72; 95 % CI, 1.09–2.71), increasing number of non-spousal household members (RR, 1.16; 95 % CI, 1.06–1.27), and ≥ 1 instrumental activity of daily living (IADL) impairments (RR, 1.69; 95 % CI, 1.12–2.53). Greater RR of lifetime prevalence was associated with African American/black race (RR, 2.61; 95 % CI, 1.37–4.98), poverty (RR, 1.47; 95 % CI, 1.04–2.09), increasing number of non-spousal household members (RR, 1.16; 95 % CI, 1.12–1.21), and having ≥1 IADL (RR, 1.45; 95 % CI, 1.11–1.90) or ≥1 ADL (RR, 1.52; 95 % CI, 1.06–2.18) impairment. Living with a spouse/partner was associated with a significantly lower RR of lifetime prevalence (RR, 0.39; 95 % CI, 0.26–0.59) CONCLUSIONS Financial exploitation of older adults is a common and serious problem. Elders from groups traditionally considered to be economically, medically, and sociodemographically vulnerable are more likely to self-report financial exploitation.

Background Elder abuse is a growing public health concern in aging Chinese populations, yet timely intervention by healthcare professionals is often hindered by cultural factors. This study aimed to explore hospital-based healthcare professionals’ perceptions of elder abuse interventions across personal, behavioral, and environmental dimensions, to inform future training program design. Methods This qualitative study explored perceptions of elder abuse interventions through semi-structured interviews with 24 participants (12 medical doctors and 12 nurses) from two tertiary hospitals in Yichang, China. Data were analyzed using directed content analysis based on Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) to examine cultural influences and professional differences. Results Perceptions regarding elder abuse interventions were dynamically influenced by the interaction of personal factors (knowledge and skills, outcome expectancies, self-efficacy, and role cognition), behavioral factors (direct and indirect intervention), and environmental factors (family, hospital, and government levels). A distinct cultural theme—family boundary concerns—significantly influenced intervention willingness. Nurses highlighted empathy, life care, and public support, whereas medical doctors emphasized professional responsibility and institutional coordination. Conclusions Findings support the SCT triadic reciprocal determinism: personal factors influence and are influenced by behavioral and environmental elements. Consequently, a multilevel strategy aligned with SCT, such as enhancing personal capacity, strengthening institutional support, and optimizing systemic safeguards, is essential to empower hospital-based healthcare professionals to intervene in elder abuse.

This article gives an overview of the work of the Office of Elder Justice and Adult Protective Services within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Community Living, including a retrospective of progress made in the past decade toward preventing, addressing, and remediating elder maltreatment. The article includes perspectives and priorities of the Office of Elder Justice and Adult Protective Services.

ABSTRACTBackgroundFamily carers of people with dementia frequently report acting abusively toward them and carer psychological morbidity predicts this. We investigated whether START (STrAtegies for RelaTives), a psychological intervention which reduces depression and anxiety in family carers also reduces abusive behavior in carers of people living in their own homes. We also explored the longitudinal course of carer abusive behavior over two year. MethodsWe included self-identified family carers who gave support at least weekly to people with dementia referred in the previous year to three UK mental health services and a neurological dementia service. We randomly assigned these carers to START, an eight-session, manual-based coping intervention, or treatment as usual (TAU). Carer abusive behavior (Modified Conflict Tactic Scale (MCTS) score ≥2 representing significant abuse) was assessed at baseline, 4, 8, 12, and 24 months. ResultsWe recruited 260 carers, 173 to START and 87 to TAU. There was no evidence that abusive behavior levels differed between randomization groups or changed over time. A quarter of carers still reported significant abuse after two years, but those not acting abusively at baseline did not become abusive. ConclusionThere was no evidence that START, which reduced carer anxiety and depression, reduced carer abusive behavior. For ethical reasons, we frequently intervened to manage concerning abuse reported in both groups, which may have disguised an intervention effect. Future dementia research should include elder abuse as an outcome, and consider carefully how to manage detected abuse.

Older adults are at increased risk for vitamin and mineral deficiencies that contribute to age-related immune system decline. Several lines of evidence suggest that taking a multi-vitamin and mineral supplement (MVM) could improve immune function in individuals 55 and older. To test this hypothesis, we provided healthy older adults with either an MVM supplement formulated to improve immune function (Redoxon® VI, Singapore) or an identical, inactive placebo control to take daily for 12 weeks. Prior to and after treatment, we measured (1) their blood mineral and vitamin status (i.e., vitamin C, zinc and vitamin D); (2) immune function (i.e., whole blood bacterial killing activity, neutrophil phagocytic activity, and reactive oxygen species production); (3) immune status (salivary IgA and plasma cytokine/chemokine levels); and (4) self-reported health status. MVM supplementation improved vitamin C and zinc status in blood and self-reported health-status without altering measures of immune function or status or vitamin D levels, suggesting that healthy older adults may benefit from MVM supplementation. Further development of functional assays and larger study populations should improve detection of specific changes in immune function after supplementation in healthy older adults. Clinical Trials Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov #NCT02876315.

Background Elder abuse is a serious violation of human rights and a worldwide issue. Upon hospital admission, elderly patients become vulnerable and susceptible to abuse. Understanding the issues perceived as abuse by the elderly patients and their family members allows us to identify, manage, and prevent elder abuse; especially in hospital settings. The present study aimed to identify and describe the abuse of hospitalized elders from the perspective of patients and their family members. Methods The present exploratory qualitative study was conducted from October 2017 to September 2018 at six different teaching hospitals affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. The target population was elderly patients in different wards across various hospitals and their family members. Based on the purposive sampling method, 16 hospitalized elderly patients and 11 family members were recruited and interviewed. The data were analyzed using the inductive content analysis method in accordance with the process described by Elo and Kyngas (J Adv Nurs 62:107–15, 2008). Results Based on the analysis of the interview data, four main categories were extracted and classified as Micro-level, Meso-level, Exo-level, and Macro-level issues. Conclusion Hospitalized elder abuse is a multi-dimensional phenomenon caused by personal and professional factors as well as issues related to the inadequate physical environment and organizational structure. To prevent the occurrence of elderly abuse, it is recommended to train hospital staff, rearrange the physical environment, reform the organizational structure, and better plan and manage the financial, physical, and human resources.

Objectives. We estimated prevalence and assessed correlates of emotional, physical, sexual, and financial mistreatment and potential neglect (defined as an identified need for assistance that no one was actively addressing) of adults aged 60 years or older in a randomly selected national sample. Methods. We compiled a representative sample by random digit dialing across geographic strata. We used computer-assisted telephone interviewing to standardize collection of demographic, risk factor, and mistreatment data. We subjected prevalence estimates and mistreatment correlates to logistic regression. Results. We analyzed data from 5777 respondents. One-year prevalence was 4.6% for emotional abuse, 1.6% for physical abuse, 0.6% for sexual abuse, 5.1% for potential neglect, and 5.2% for current financial abuse by a family member. One in 10 respondents reported emotional, physical, or sexual mistreatment or potential neglect in the past year. The most consistent correlates of mistreatment across abuse types were low social support and previous traumatic event exposure. Conclusions. Our data showed that abuse of the elderly is prevalent. Addressing low social support with preventive interventions could have significant public health implications.

With aging, men develop testosterone-deficiency syndrome (TDS). The development is closely associated with age-related mitochondrial dysfunction of Leydig cell and oxidative stress-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS). Testosterone-replacement therapy (TRT) is used to improve the symptoms of TDS. However, due to its various side effects, research on functional ingredients derived from natural products that do not have side effects is urgently needed. In this study, using the mitochondrial dysfunction TM3 (mouse Leydig) cells, in which testosterone biosynthesis is reduced by H.sub.2 O.sub.2, we evaluated the effects of elderberry extract and monosaccharide-amino acid (fructose-leucine; FL) on mRNA and protein levels related to steroidogenesis-related enzymes steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), cytochrome P450 11A1(CYP11A1, cytochrome P450 17A1(CYP17A1), cytochrome P450 19A1(CYP19A1, aromatase), 3[beta]-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3[beta]-HSD), and 17[beta]-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase(17[beta]-HSD). We analyzed elderberry extract and extract-derived FL for changes in ROS scavenging activity and testosterone secretion. Elderberry extract and FL significantly reduced H.sub.2 O.sub.2 -induced intracellular ROS levels, improved testosterone secretion, and increased the mRNA and protein expression levels of steroidogenesis-related enzymes (StAR, 3b-HSD, 17b-HSD, CYP11A1, CYp17A1). However, the conversion of testosterone to estradiol was inhibited by elderberry extract and extract-derived FL, which reduced the mRNA and protein expression of CYP19A1. In conclusion, elderberry extract and FL are predicted to have value as novel functional ingredients that may contribute to the prevention of TDS by ameliorating reduced steroidogenesis.