CLAIM MAKING ABOUT ELDER ABUSE IN AUSTRALIA

Abstract

ABSTRACT The abuse of older people, commonly known as elder abuse, has recently been claimed to be a significant social problem in Australia. This paper examines the activity of claim making about elder abuse from an historical and sociological perspective. A framework for understanding the processes by which phenomena become social problems is presented. The effect of the social environment on a twenty‐year history of Australian claims about elder abuse is analysed. Like many other social problems, elder abuse has been defined in individualistic terms and proposals for person‐centred interventions predominate. The authors advocate that Australia employ a comprehensive approach, attending to both individual and structural factors. We support the arguments that a person‐centred approach is limited and put forward some suggestions for future policy and practice.

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