Elder abuse and family transformation

Abstract

In this chapter, elder abuse in Japan seeks to discuss the issue centering on the three aspects. They are as follows: The relationship between elder abuse and the history (the change) of social and personal environment around the old adults in JapanThe characteristics of Elder Abuse Prevention Act in JapanThe structure of elder abuse which was caused by multilayered factors First, elder abuse is described from the perspective of the life course situation. The life of older adults is influenced by the change of the environment, by the relationship and by the interaction with various people, and by the social trend. Based on characteristics of such older adults, it is necessary to analyze elder abuse from the intergenerational transmission of violence theory. Elder abuse had been explained by the history of Japan. For example, there were many Ubasute folktales which are the legend of the granny dumping in various regions and times. This is the custom of abandoning old people. Japan had changed after World War II. Especially, the situation of the family was changed enormously. Prior to World War II, Japanese older adults with dementia were apt to be hidden as “shame” in the home (as discussed in Chap. 1 of the current anthology). Family members did not want to tell anything that is shameful about their family, so the number of reports was small. However, after World War II, the “abuse” against older adults has been found out of the home because the function of the family had been fragile. Then, the Long-Term Care Insurance System was established in 2000. It was only since then when the home care services for older adults have been made available in Japan.Second, the characteristics of Elder Abuse Prevention Act enacted in 2005 were explained. In this Act, elder abuse is defined as five acts. They are physical violence, neglect, sexual violence, psychological abuse, and economic abuse. Japanese definition of elder abuse, however, excluded self-neglect, because it was thought as not appropriate. Besides Elder Abuse Prevention Act, the Adult Guardianship System was explained as Japanese system and policy for the prevention of elder abuse.Third, factors which cause elder abuse are not only human relations, but also multilayered structures. These factors could be categorized into four:(1) factor caused by old adults who were abused (older adults became weak, such as economic hardship and being in need of care), (2) factor caused by family members who abused older adults (family member’s personality feature, health condition, care burden, and economic difficulties), (3) family relation (“the cycle of abuse” and “the intergenerational transmission of family violence”), and (4) cultural (“a traditional care role norm” and a domestic “gender division of labor norm”) (as discussed in Chap. 1 of the current anthology) as well as social factors (the longevity revolution of older adults, increasing population of 65 and over, the establishment of the Long-Term Care Insurance System, and the deteriorating economic situation), based on many previous studies.Finally, changing research trends in the study of elder abuse were introduced by some Japanese databases, such as DiaL, CiNii Articles, and others. The chapter concludes the study by suggesting some future tasks such as the empowerment approach and the local network for the prevention of elder abuse.