Learnings from other perspectives and responses to abuse & mistreatment of vulnerable populations: Elder Abuse, Domestic Violence, Child Protection & Safeguarding People with Disabilities

Abstract

Abuse and mistreatment are common themes across the lifespan, yet our theoretical perspectives, policies and practice interventions are typically targeted to specific vulnerable populations such as older people, women and children in domestic settings, and people with disabilities. Responses and approaches to intervening are also shaped by historical developments in the field of work, including the professional perspectives of those who first ‘discovered’ the issue and developed ways of understanding and dealing with it. For example, elder abuse was first described as ‘granny battering’ (Baker, 1975) and picked up by nurses and medical practitioners who thus framed responses emphasising physical abuse within the health care system.

It is important to have an awareness of the ways in which approaches, practices and knowledge have evolved historically as this has underpinned the consequent development of responses. This presentation will discuss similarities and differences in theoretical and practice approaches in the areas of elder abuse, child abuse, domestic violence and the abuse and mistreatment of people with disabilities. Some theorists have proposed that there are more differences than similarities in areas such as child and elder abuse (Giurani & Hasan, 2002). However, comparing theoretical and practice approaches, as well as synthesising data across both the lifespan and areas of vulnerability may be useful in developing a more comprehensive explanation of abuse, mistreatment and violence and lead to new ways of addressing it across the lifespan.