Mistreatment of African American Elders

Abstract

This Research to Practice Brief synthesizes recent information and research findings related to understanding the mistreatment of African American elders, particularly involving financial exploitation and psychological abuse. General cultural beliefs, views, and norms within the African American community offer both risk and protective factors that influence elder abuse in this population. Socioeconomic variables, such as poverty, institutionalized racism, and structural segregation also place African American elders at risk. While this population can also be referred to as Black or Black American, this brief uses the term “African American.” Key takeaways [include that] there is limited research on elder abuse and neglect for the African American population, elder abuse in the African American community is influenced by risk factors and protective factors that span from the individual level to the community level, [and] compared to their non-African American counterparts, African Americans are disproportionately impacted by financial exploitation and psychological mistreatment. (Author text)