The Elderly as Social Victims of Modernization: Abuse and Neglect of the Elderly in Turkey

Abstract

Determining the size of the elderly abuse and neglect is important in terms of providing the necessary assistance to the elderly and creating social policies. In this study, it is aimed to obtain data related to the neglect and abuse of the elderly, to discuss the relevant data and to address some suggestions for the solution. The data of the study were obtained by systematic reviewmethod. Six data bases were scanned in the field of medicine and social sciences. Goal reference list of publications and the World Health Organization, the Institute of Statistics of Turkey, Ministry of Justice web base is scanned and the Forensic Medicine Institute. The texts of the articles that appropriate the purpose of the study were examined. 21.7% of the publications; to give information about elderly abuse and neglect (80%), to evaluate forensic results (10%) and to evaluate studies on elderly abuse (10%). Determining the status of elderly people who are victims of abuse or neglect (26.1%), identification of elderly traumas (19.6%), giving information about elderly abuse and neglect (17.4%), determination of elderly deaths (15.2%), identifying perceptions / thoughts about elderly abuse and neglect (10.9%). In Turkey, the web base of elder abuse in public institutions as a major obstacle in determining the subject of the lack of data on the size negligence emerges. According to the findings of the publications showing the level of abuse of the elderly, it is observed that the problem of elder abuse and neglect has increased.