Book chapter
Victimisation of the vulnerable older rural resident
Rural Victims of Crime: Representations, Realities and Responses, pp.100-116
Routledge Studies in Rural Criminology, Routledge
2023
Abstract
The abuse and mistreatment of older people, or elder abuse, is estimated to affect up to 15.7 percent of community-dwelling older people in high- and middle-income countries and is more often than not perpetrated by a family member. However, true prevalence rates are likely to be higher, as older adults tend to under-report instances of interpersonal violence, especially when perpetrated by family members. There are many factors that amplify an older person’s risk of abuse, including gender, physical and cognitive impairments, past trauma, shared living situations, carer stress, social isolation, language barriers and ageism. Building upon criminological theories and the crime triangle, this chapter explores how older people living in rural and remote areas could be potentially vulnerable due to a lack of protective mechanisms exacerbated by social and geographic isolation and difficulties accessing support and legal services. Incorporating data collected within several studies in the Australian context, this chapter canvasses the distinctive nature of elder abuse in rural, regional and remote locations, also acknowledging the different experiences of older Indigenous people.
Details
- Title
- Victimisation of the vulnerable older rural resident
- Authors
- Barbara Blundell (Author) - Curtin UniversityEmily Moir (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Law and SocietyAmy Warren (Author) - Curtin University
- Contributors
- Rachel Hale (Editor)Alistair Harkness (Editor) - University of New England
- Publication details
- Rural Victims of Crime: Representations, Realities and Responses, pp.100-116
- Series
- Routledge Studies in Rural Criminology
- Publisher
- Routledge
- DOI
- 10.4324/9781003132691-13; 10.4324/9781003132691
- ISBN
- 9781003132691
- Organisation Unit
- School of Law and Society; Sexual Violence Research and Prevention Unit
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99712398702621
- Output Type
- Book chapter
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