Exploring the Role of Risk Factors in Health and Disease

Various studies have studied what are the risk factors for suffering abuse and for causing it, and what are the circumstances that favor it.

In general, it can be stated that the risk factors for an elderly person to suffer abuse are:

• Old age, widowhood, female sex.
• Social isolation, history of domestic abuse, frequent changes of address and health center.
• Recent worsening of health, physical or cognitive impairment, dementia.
• Behavioral disorders: agitation, incontinence.
• Functional, financial or emotional dependency.
• Depression, low self-esteem.

For the aggressor, the risk factors are

• History of family violence.
• Social isolation, poverty, refusal of medical or assistance help.
• Mental illness or substance abuse.
• Chronic physical illness.
• Caregiver overload, physical or emotional.
• Dependency of the victim.

Regarding the environment in which the abuse takes place, the risk indicators are

• Lack of social resources.
• Economic difficulties.
• Bad previous family relationship.
• Shared housing.
• Health world: lack of initiative, training gaps, work overload.

Thus, an example or profile of victim and aggressor can be established, which will help to better identify risk factors

Profile of the possible victim:

• Sex: Female.
• Age: 75 years or older.
• Marital status: Widow.
• Significant functional impairment due to a chronic or progressive disease (Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, stroke).
• Dependent on your caregiver for most activities of daily living.
• Carrier of problems and abnormal behaviors: incontinence, aggressiveness, restlessness at night.
• Living with a relative who is the main and only caregiver.
• Previous history of unexplained and recurrent injuries.
• Signs of malnutrition, dehydration, poor hygiene, or drug poisoning.
• Social isolation.

Profile of the caregiver responsible for the abuse:

• Relationship with the victim: son, daughter, husband.
• I did not accept the role of caregiver. It does not assume the responsibility that this entails.
• Dependence of the elderly from the economic point of view; the home is usually the victim's.
• Consumer of drugs, alcohol and drugs.
• History of psychiatric illness or personality disorders.
• Few social contacts.
• Waiver of medical and community aids.
• Hostility, irritability and suspicion in interviews.
• Obvious loss of control of the situation.
• Previous history of family violence (wife, children ...).
• Stress from various causes (loss of job, carrier of any disease, marital problems).