The Cultural Nuances of Elder Abuse

By Renee Carrico, Pro Bono and Elder Justice Coordinator

Culture is defined as the learned and shared beliefs and behaviors of a particular social, ethnic, or age group.  From a group as large as a nation to as small as a family, there are standards and/or norms that govern how we interact with one another.  Culture influences how we interpret and respond to situations with other people, from individualism to shared family responsibility (collectivism). Yet, culture is not fixed, it’s ever-changing by us. Justice is supposed to be impartial, objective, and blind from undue influence, to treat individuals equally under law, whether friend or stranger, rich or poor.  People on either side of the argument can provide ample examples of how their interpretations of our system is correct. Our lifetime of cumulative experiences inform how we respond to the world around us and tackle life’s problems. No one-size fits all approach can work for everyone. 

Elder abuse is no different.  We can provide a 24-hour Crime Victim Hotline 844-4-HELP-DC (844-443-5732) and a 24-hour Adult Protective Services Hotline (202-541-3950) in the District of Columbia, but if the victim is from an historically marginalized group that has had negative experiences with government and law enforcement, they may be reluctant or even fearful of inviting these institutions into their lives. In fact, an older adult survivor may not want to speak out for a number of reasons. They may depend on their abuser, be afraid of being put in a nursing home, or do not want to have their own adult child arrested.  Why? Because of love, shame, and family pressure.  Others may see what’s happening to them, not as abuse, but as themselves being a burden on the family.  While still others may fear being outed and shunned or victimized by the people they are seeking help from.

The National Center on Elder Abuse and the Keck School of Medicine USC have recently updated their “Research to Practice Briefs” on this topic. These briefs offer new information on mistreatment of cultural subgroups of older adult survivors. While not all-encompassing, they lay a foundation for better understanding, improved policy-making, and more person-centered service delivery. In order to meet the needs of older adults, our elders, we need to be more culturally informed. We must strive to understand the cultural beliefs, norms, and views that are driving the mistreatment. This starts with asking, listening, and learning, and then encouraging older adult survivors to seek help in ways that empower them for the future.

“Research to Practice Briefs”:

Mistreatment of African American Elders (2020)

Mistreatment of Latinx Older Adults (2020)

Mistreatment of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Elders (2020)

Mistreatment of Asian Pacific Islander (API) Elders (2013)