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Vol. 73, No. 9, September 2000
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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%) |
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Mental Illness 244 (7.5%) |
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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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