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    Wisconsin Lawyer
    September 01, 2000

    Wisconsin Lawyer September 2000: Incidents of Elder Abuse

    Special Focus Issue - Elder Abuse

    Incidents of Elder Abuse

    Readers may request a brochure containing the report's key findings by calling the Bureau of Aging and Long Term Care Resources, (608) 266-2536.

    The "1999 Elder Abuse Report," issued by the Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services, Bureau of Aging and Long Term Care Resources, provides a statistical profile of elder abuse in Wisconsin. A total of 3,257 cases of suspected abuse and neglect were reported in 1999, an increase of nearly 6 percent over 1998. Of these, nine were fatal and 363 were considered life threatening. More than 1 in 11 (11.1 percent) involved either a fatal or life-threatening situation. The report contains information about the types of abuse reported, characteristics of the victims and abusers, and actions taken.

    Client Characteristics

    Clients are identified as having at least one dependency or disability in nearly 95 percent of the cases. The total is greater than 100 percent because a victim may have more than one client characteristic.

    Frail 2,212 (67.9 %) Alcohol or Drug Abuse 231 (7.1%)
    Dementia 891 (27.4%) Incontinent 255 (7.8%)
    Medical Condition 555 (17.0%) Other Dependency or Disability 127 (3.9%)
    Physical Disability 706 (21.7%) No Dependency or Disability 170 (5.2%)
    Housebound 269 (8.3%)  
    Mental Illness 244 (7.5%)  

    Relationship of Abuser(s) to Victim

    Of the 3,257 cases reported, 1,707 involved self-neglecting elders. In the remaining cases, almost 79 percent of the alleged abusers were relatives of the victim. Data on abusers reflect total reports made, not number of substantiated cases.

    Spouse 277 (16.8%) Other Relative 265 (16.1%)
    Son 391 (23.8%) Friend/Neighbor 162 (9.8%)
    Daughter 366 (22.2%) Other (including service provider) 185 (11.3%)

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