Friday, 14 January 2005 - 12:00 PM

This presentation is part of: Poster Session I

Predictors of early symptoms of elder abuse among family caregivers with dementia patients in South Korea

Purpose: In Korea, family caregivers provide the primary source of care to aging members, yet elder abuse by caregivers to their older family members has been rarely studied. Dementias are even seldom discussed in the context of elder abuse due to cultural factors and the occurrence in the privacy of the elder's home. The purpose of this study is to identify characteristics that would increase the likelihood that a Korean older adult with dementia being cared for by a family caregiver is at risk of being abused.

Method: This analysis was based on a sample of 490 primary family caregivers from the Comprehensive Study for the Elderly Welfare Policy in Seoul (Kim, 2003). To investigate elder abuse in domestic settings, this study surveyed primary caregivers because it is difficult to gather valid and reliable data about the subjective status of patients suffering from dementia (Zank & Schacke, 2002). A multiple regression method was employed to identify significant predictors among the demographic characteristics of caregivers and care recipients, the severity of cognitive impairment, functional ability, caregiver burden, and social support for the degree of elder abuse.

Results: Analysis of the important determinants of symptoms of elder abuse indicated that the degree of elder abuse was significantly associated with caregiver burden (β= .094, p < .01), mental impairment (β= .239, p < .001), and dependency of daily living (β= -.126, p < .01) of care recipient. Consistent with previous research, as the level of caregiver burden and the severity of cognitive impairment increased, the caregivers were more likely to abuse their older family member in the domestic setting. However, the socio economic status of caregiver and care recipient, and social support were not statistically related with elder abuse. Contrary to the researchers' expectations, as functional ability of the care recipient with dementia weakened, the caregivers were less likely to abuse their care recipients.

Implication: Findings implied that in order to prevent possible elder abuse in Korea, researchers, social workers, and policy makers should focus more on primary caregivers who care for the elderly with severe cognitive impairment. Moreover, psychological support services and programs for family caregivers also should be provided to mitigate caregiver burden because a higher level of caregiver burden leads primary caregivers to abuse their care recipients with disabilities.

Reference Kim, K. H. (2003). Comprehensive study for the elderly welfare policy in Seoul: Survey and policy recommendations. Seoul Development Institute. Zank, S., & Schacke, C. (2002). Evaluation of geriatric day care units: Effects on patients and caregivers. Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, 57B(4), 348-357.

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