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Project Details
HRSDC-NICE Project Defining and Measuring
Elder Abuse and Neglect
Preparatory Work for Measuring Prevalence and
Neglect of Older Adults in Canada
Human
Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) is funding two years of
research
to
address the
abuse
and neglect of older adults in Canada. The project, entitled Defining
and
Measuring Elder Abuse and Neglect – Preparatory Work Required to Measure
the
Prevalence of Abuse and Neglect of Older Adults in Canada, aims to
inform a
possible national prevalence study, and other potential studies, by
developing
measurement instruments that will be applicable in the community as well
as
institutions. The
research team is made up of fourteen experts from Canada and abroad.
The
project seeks to address several issues, among them: problems associated
with the conceptual definitions and measurement of mistreatment of older
adults;
theoretical difficulties;
current
challenges associated with identifying risk factors for abuse and
neglect, and;
issues surrounding the collection of reliable and valid data related to
the
prevalence of abuse and neglect.
Project Description:
This
multi-disciplinary research project contains a series of sub-projects, each of
which will produce multiple deliverables, most notably final sub-project
reports and ultimately one overarching synthesis report. The project is
currently in sub-project 2 where the outcomes from focus groups and interviews
with older adults and caregivers will inform the development of a survey
instrument in order to accurately reflect participant understandings of
terminology relating to abuse and neglect of older adults.
The 5 sub-projects within this
program of research are:
1)
Clearly Defining Elder Abuse and Neglect
This sub-project will develop clear conceptual
definitions of abuse of, and neglect of, older adults. In addition to
literature and theory exploration and synthesis, a ‘future search’ definition
consensus-building session is also being considered as an opportunity to
directly incorporate stakeholder feedback into definitional development.
2) Developing Instruments for Measuring Elder Abuse
and Neglect
This
sub-project will develop the specific modules of questions for the telephone
survey questionnaire and for interviews in institutions (which will take place
in sub-project 3), regarding definitions and impacts of mistreatment and risk
factors.
3) Validation of Measurement Instruments
This
sub-project will validate the measurement instruments using both qualitative
and quantitative approaches. This sub-project involves cognitive testing as
well as telephone and institution-based interviews for the purposes of studying
the elder abuse measurement instruments.
4) Ethical Considerations
This
sub-project will identify ethical issues in conducting a study of mistreatment,
and will ascertain possible solutions. This project will run simultaneously to
the third sub-project during the first three months of both as many of the
ethical issues that may arise must be addressed prior to field work.
5) Consensus Development, Pathway for Knowledge
Transfer
This
sub-project will provide a context in which overall project results and
conclusions may be formally presented, as well as explored by researchers,
practitioners, and other stakeholders.
Project
Leads:
Lynn
McDonald, Ph.D – University of Toronto
Cynthia Thomas, Ph.D – Westat
Simon
Biggs, Ph.D – King’s College London
Ariela
Lowenstein, Ph.D – University of Haifa
Thomas
Goergen, Ph.D – German Police University
Marie Beaulieu, Ph.D – Sherbrooke University
Sandi
Hirst, Ph.D – University of Calgary
Anthony Lombardo, Ph.D – National Initiative for
Care of the Elderly
Shelley
Raffin Bouchal, Ph.D – University of Calgary
Judith
Wahl, L.L.B. – Advocacy Centre for the Elderly
Christine
Walsh, Ph.D – University of Calgary
Kevin
Willison, Ph.D – Lakehead University
Laura
Watts, L.L.B. – Canadian Centre for Elder Law
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