Understanding Elder Abuse in India: Contributing Factors and Policy Suggestions

Elder abuse is a multifaceted public health issue. The aim of this study is to provide a concise overview of elder abuse among adults age 60 and above, at the national and state levels in India. The main objective of this research is to examine the prevalence and determinants of elder abuse in light of the latest available data, with an emphasis on working status of older adults. Further, we explore the relative importance of distinctive factors explaining the gendered differential in elder abuse. This study also suggests some strategies to address the problem of elder abuse. Data from the 2020 Longitudinal Ageing Study in India indicates that although the overall prevalence of elder abuse is relatively low in India (5.22%), wide state-level variations prevail. Women, working older adults (especially working women), those under the age of 70, those with greater household assets, those not in a marital union, those staying in rural areas, and those in poor health have significantly higher chances of abuse than their counterparts. Both wealth and education must reach a critical level to curb abuse. Differences in economic factors explain only 10% of the gender gap in elder abuse prevalence. Sociodemographic factors alone account for around 29%, and health-related factors contribute to 28% of the gender differential in elder abuse. We argue for widespread protective policies and targeted program interventions to address elder abuse in India.