Years of the research: 2015
Country: Serbia
Language: Serbian
Keywords:
Abstract:
Elder abuse is by its nature a complex phenomenon consisting of physical, sexual, psychological and financial abuse as well as intentional or unintentional neglect and abandonment. It is important to emphasize that elder abuse is a serious violation of human rights. "Well-kept family secret: elder abuse” is a project implemented by the Red Cross of Serbia in cooperation with the office of Commissioner for the Protection of Equality of Serbia. The research itself was done via telephone, covering 800 persons above the age of 65. The average age of the interviewee was 73. As for the results, it is established that 19.8 percent of the interviewees have been exposed to some form of abuse and violence in their older age whereas 11 percent have experienced some form of abuse in the last 12 months.
Researchers:
Type of research: national
Target group: Persons above the age of 65
Sample:
N=800
Aims/Objectives/Background:
The objective of the project was to collect the data on the frequency of elder abuse in Serbia, as well as data on different types of elder abuse. The results of the project were also used to provide intervention recommendations for the decision makers in order to ensure improvement of the status of older people and reduction of elder abuse in Serbia.
Findings/outcome/conclusion/research questions:
It is established that 19.8 percent of the interviewees have been exposed to some form of abuse and violence in their older age whereas 11 percent have experienced some form of abuse in the last 12 months. As for the specific types of abuse, the highest risk seems to be of financial abuse. Looking at specific forms of financial abuse, it can be established that 11.5 percent of the interviewees were exposed to at least one of its forms. 3.9 percent of our interviewees were exposed to physical abuse. Psychological/ verbal/ emotional abuse was reported by 7.8 percent of the interviewed persons with 4.6 percent reporting it in the last 12 months. The normative and legal framework needs to be updated to provide better and more effective protection. Implementation of existing legal protection and prevention measures needs to be more efficient and better monitored which calls for building of more capacity, predominantly at local level.
Online publication/reports/links:
http://redcross.org.rs/slika_4096_Dobro%20cuvana%20porodicna%20tajna%20e-knjiga.pdf
Financed by: UNFPA
Contact person: Natasa Todorovic, natasa@redcross.org.rs, Milutin Vracevic, milutin@redcross.org.rs
Copyright
“The Central and Eastern European Active Ageing Network database is protected by copyright law, under international agreements and the EC Database Directive 96/9/EC. The owner of the database is the Institute of Mental Health of Semmelweis University and the University of Debrecen Faculty of Health. Reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is not permitted without the prior written authorization of the [owner].”