Quantifying the problem of abuse and neglect in adults - Analysis of a statewide database

BACKGROUND: Mistreatment of adults, including abuse, neglect, and exploitation, affects more than 1.8 million older Americans. Presently, there is a lack of precise estimates of the magnitude of the problem and the variability in risk for different types of mistreatment depending on such factors as age and gender. OBJECTIVES: To describe the universe of case reports received during one year in a centralized computer database maintained by the Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services-Adult Protective Services Division (TDPRS-APS). DESIGN: Descriptive. SETTING: Texas. PARTICIPANTS: Mistreated or neglected older people. MEASUREMENTS: The distribution of abuse types reported and population prevalence estimates of each abuse type by age and sex. RESULTS: There were over 62,000 allegations of adult mistreatment and neglect filed in Texas in 1997. Neglect accounted for 80% of the allegations. The incidence of being reported to the TDPRS-APS increased sharply after age 65. The prevalence was 1,310 individuals/100,000 greater than or equal to 65 years of age for all abuse types. CONCLUSIONS: The TDPRS database is an excellent tool for characterizing and tracking cases of reported elder mistreatment. Achieving a clearer understanding of this ever-increasing public health problem can aid in the development of better interventions and prevention strategies.