Care of Elderly in Portugal: Official Data and Scientific and Professional Challenges

Abstract

The world has never been so active in approaching human needs and human rights. As the population becomes older, new demands are made over health and protective services, aswell as on research. This chapter presents the scientific and practical developments on the field of elder mistreatment in Portugal. An overview of the scientific trends in Portuguese research is presented. National research on elder mistreatment has been increasing slowly. The current national scenery is focused on prevalence data and identifying risk and vulnerabilities. This chapter will also discuss the support structures available for mistreated older adults in Portugal, namely the current legal framework and the institutions/entities that offer aid to the victims. Legally, elder mistreatment in Portugal is no different from domestic violence, though some legislative advances have been seen respecting the figure of abandonment. Some structures have been developed over the years to offer aid to older adults, from special programs in the police to private institutions, passing by governmentsupported initiatives.