Comparative Study of Elderly Abuse between Taipei and Japan

Abstract

The present study was investigated the conditions surrounding elderly abuse in Taiwan and attempts to identify possible measures for preventing elderly abuse by comparing the Taiwanese situation with that of Japan. We sent a questionnaire to all public health nurses working at health centers in 12 districts in Taipei. An identical questionnaire was used in Saitama prefecture in 1995.

The results were as follows:

1) In Taipei, most of the elderly experiencing abuse were independent and living alone, and in the usual case, it was their son, rather than their daughters-in-law who had responsibility for providing care.

2) As it was found in Saitama prefecture, elderly abuse involved a family relationship such as a parent-child or a daughter-in-law/mother-in-law relationship. In addition, it was not always the case in Taipei that the degree of physical dependence influenced the occurrence of abuse.

3) The quality and quantity of services available in Taipei, including services provided in close cooperation with other healthcare providers is currently insufficient.

In light of the conditions surrounding elderly abuse in Taiwan, the present results suggest the importance of monitoring family relationships and providing ready access to needed social services.