Abstract

MARTINEZ QUEROL, César; PEREZ MARTINEZ, Víctor T.; CARDONA SANSON, Yolanda  and  INCLAN RAVELO, Laura. Elderly abuse: a challenge to primary geriatric health care. Rev Cubana Med Gen Integr [online]. 2005, vol.21, n.1-2. ISSN 0864-2125.

A descriptive cross-sectional study was undertaken in the population of older adults from a family physician's office of "Ana Betancourt" Polyclinic, in Playa municipality. The sample (93 patients) was classified by groups according to age, sex, educational level, occupation, marital status, etc. In addition to their general data, the family structure and functioning, its incomes, the assistance received, its origin, the treatment given by close relatives and friends, etc., were also investigated by applying a questionnaire-survey. It was found that 41 (44 %) were abused or mistreated in some way . The economic financial profile was the most frequent with 19 cases (35 %), followed by psychiological abuse with 18 (33 %), lack of attention in 15 (27 %) and physical abuse in 3 (5 %). The family functioning of the houses where the elderly abused lived was also exposed.

Keywords : Elderly; physical abuse; psychological abuse; financial abuse; family dysfunction.

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