Forms and predictors of older adults’ maltreatment in Nnewi, South-East, Nigeria

Implications for social work practice

Abstract

Maltreatment of older adults is one of the social and public health issues arising from some factors such as changes in the traditional values attached to old age, ageing stereotype and dependency of older adults on family members or care-givers for performing some of the activities of daily livings (ADLs). Hence, this study examined various forms and predictors of maltreatment experienced by older adults in South-east, Nigeria. Quantitative data were collected from 516 respondents aged 60 years or older. Findings reveal that older adults chiefly experienced financial, material, emotional maltreatment and neglect; meanwhile factors such as living arrangement, social support, income, and marital status were statistically significant in predicting older adults’ maltreatment. Also, sex, marital status, living arrangement, health status determines the form of maltreatment experienced by older adults. Therefore, social work