The purpose of the study was to examine how social services manage cases involving elder abuse and whether the cases were managed differently depending on the gender of the client. To answer the study’s purpose and questions, qualitative interviews were conducted with social workers who worked in social services (n=6) and who had experience of cases involving elder abuse. The data was analyzed by Johan Galtung’s model of violence and by the theoretical concepts of ageism and intersectionality. The results from the rather scarce experiences of cases of older people who are victims of violence showed that there were  major differences in how elder abuse is carried out and the forms it takes, compared to abuse towards younger age-groups. However, there seems to be a lack of knowledge about elder abuse as well as a lack of guidelines for how cases involving elder abuse should be managed in the social services. Our conclusion was that the lack of guidelines prevents social workers from identifying and fully understanding elder abuse, as well as obtaining knowledge of how cases involving elder abuse should be managed. / Studiens syfte var att undersöka hur äldre som utsätts för våld hanteras inom socialtjänsten samt om det finns skillnader i ärendehanteringen beroende på om klienterna är män eller kvinnor. För att besvara studiens syfte och frågeställningar genomfördes kvalitativa intervjuer med socialarbetare som arbetade inom socialtjänsten (n=6) och som hade erfarenhet av våld mot äldre. Data har analyserats med hjälp av Johan Galtungs modell om våld samt de teoretiska begreppen ålderism och intersektionalitet. Resultaten visade att äldre personer som utsatts för våld sällan förekommande fall inom socialtjänsten. Det finns stora skillnader i hur våld mot äldre utövas och hur det ter sig, jämfört med våld bland yngre åldersgrupper. Samtidigt är kunskapen om våld mot äldre bristfällig, och riktlinjer för hur ärenden som involverar våld mot äldre ska hanteras saknas i socialtjänsten. Vår slutsats var att avsaknaden av riktlinjer gjorde det svårare för socialarbetare att förstå och identifiera våld mot äldre, så väl som att få kunskap om hur ärenden som involverar våld mot äldre ska hanteras.

The purpose of this study was to inquire how social workers perceive and describe financial abuse of older persons. Six qualitative interviews were carried out and the assembled data was then categorized and analyzed using a theory considering exercise of power and ageism as a theoretical frame. Previous research has shown that at least 10% of older persons have been exposed to some form of abuse or violence; however, there is a lack of research carried out in a Swedish context regarding financial abuse specifically. The six persons interviewed in this study all presented financial abuse as some kind of violence and as previous research has shown the study suggests that this is an increasing problem. Further research ought to be carried out to increase the awareness of this particular form of abuse and to facilitate discovery and development of measures to prevent financial abuse of older persons. The result of this study as well as previous research indicates that there is a high amount of unrecorded cases; therefore, it is hard to define financial abuse since the use of the term varies among different contexts and that the term consists of very differing examples.

This PhD project by publication begins to explore how Scottish adult support and protection (ASP) policy and practice carves out its role and remit. It examines the ways that concepts like “abuse”, “vulnerability” and “protection” have been constructed, both by individual practitioners and at a policy level. The submission comprises five papers published in peer-reviewed journals and this contextualising document, which knits together the work and draws out overall conclusions and implications. The papers themselves report on a literature review, a further analysis of case study research into ASP practice and a critical policy comparison. The case study research was conducted immediately prior to legislative changes in Scotland with respect to ASP, and the policy comparison was conducted subsequently to these changes. Overall, the findings highlight the ways that a social constructionist approach can usefully deepen our understandings of ASP. That is, they show how understanding concepts like “protection”, “vulnerability” and “abuse” to be actively constructed in unique and complex contexts can promote criticality in policy-making, practice and research.

The aim of this qualitative study was to explore which inner conceptions about the abused older women the professional social workers had and how they experienced the enconter of an abused old woman in an intimate partner relation. The theoretical background is social construction by Berger and Luckmann. This theory was uset to analyze the transcribed interviews. This study is based on nine interviews with five professionals in social services, three volunteers from the voluntary sector and one social worker who worked in a community based support group for abused older women. The result of this study shows that older women were often abused, by a relative they were dependent on, in their home. The participants describe emotions of insecurity and frustration in their efforts to help the older women. They also described difficulties in creating confidence with the women. The conclusion is that the abused older women don´t always get the support of interventions from the social service agencies.

Introduktion/Bakgrund: Enligt ett flertal vetenskapliga rapporter är misshandel och utnyttjande av äldre ett växande problem i Europa och övriga världen. Det kommer att ställas högre krav på vårdgivare både inom familjen och inom välfärden på grund av en åldrande europeisk befolkning. Det förutses att en tredjedel av den europeiska befolkningen kommer att vara 60 år eller äldre år 2050. Tillförlitliga data och forskning är dock en bristvara när det kommer till misshandel och utnyttjande av äldre. Syfte: Att granska den tillgängliga forskningen om vilken effekt olika socioekonomiska faktorer (utbildning, yrke och förmögenhet) har huruvida äldre människor (60 år eller äldre) riskerar att utsättas för fysisk och/eller psykisk misshandel. Metod: En litteraturstudie valdes som arbetsmetod. Vetenskapliga artiklar och relevant litteratur har granskats och valts ut via olika databaser. Resultat: Studien kom fram till att olika socioekonomiska faktorer (utbildning, yrke och förmögenhet) påverkar huruvida äldre människor riskerar att utsättas för fysisk och/eller psykisk misshandel. Av de studerade faktorerna var utbildning den socioekonomiska faktor som främst påverkade huruvida en äldre människa riskerade att bli utsatt för misshandel eller inte. De andra faktorerna, yrke och förmögenhet/inkomst, var inte representerade i samma utsträckning som utbildning i studiens resultat. En annan påverkande faktor som hänger ihop med socioekonomiska faktorer visade sig vara könstilhörighet. Majoriteten av den granskade litteraturen bekräftar att det finns ett mönster som innebär att äldre kvinnor löper en större risk än män att utsättas för psykisk och/eller fysisk misshandel. Det var svårt att identifiera likheter eller skillnader mellan olika europeiska regioner på grund av att studiemetod och studiedesign skiljde sig allt för mycket åt mellan de olika vetenskapliga artiklarna. Slutsats: Resultatet från litteraturgranskningen visade att utbildning har en större påverkan än yrke och förmögenhet huruvida en äldre människa riskerar att bli utsatt för psykisk och/eller fysisk misshandel eller inte. Studien fann även att könsskillnader var tydliga och innebär äldre kvinnor löper större risk än män att bli utsatta. Något som också måste tas i beaktning i framtida forskning. Bristen på forskning och litteratur inom ämnet vittnar om att det finns ett stort behov av mer forskning. En bättre förståelse för relationen mellan socioekonomisk position och misshandel av äldre är viktigt för framtiden. / Abstract Introduction: The issue of elder abuse is described as increasing in Europe and beyond according to several scientific reports. An ageing European population combined with longer life expectancy will increase demands on family caregivers and a well-functioning health and social care workforce. It is estimated that in year 2050 one third of the European population will be 60 years or older. However there is still a shortage of confident data across European countries regarding the extent, features, determinants and effects of elder abuse. Aim: To review existing knowledge of the impact of various measures of socioeconomic position (education, occupation and wealth) on physical and psychological abuse among elderly people (60 years of age and over) in Europe. Method: A literature study was chosen as working method. Scientific articles and relevant literature were examined using different databases. Results: The review found that socioeconomic position factors (education, occupation, wealth) have an impact on the likelihood of elderly individuals experiencing abuse. Of the assessed factors, education has shown to be the socioeconomic factor which has the most impact on the likelihood of elder abuse. Other factors such as occupation and wealth and income, were not represented in the results at the same extent as education. Another important factor related to elderly people’s socio-economic position was found to be gender. The majority of articles analysed in this thesis confirms that there is a pattern where elderly women are more likely to experience abuse than are men. Due to different study designs and measures in the analysed scientific articles and reports differences according to area context were hard to identify. Conclusion: Results of this thesis showed that education as measure of socioeconomic position had the biggest impact on elder abuse as compared to occupation and wealth. However, gender (a factor strictly linked to socioeconomic position) differentials were remarkable, a subject which needs to be taken into consideration in future research. Further, the lack of literature in the research subject points out to an urgent need for further studies. This is urgently needed, as both ageing and abuse are increasing across Europe. A better understanding of the relation between socioeconomic position and abuse among elderly will be of paramount importance for future interventions aimed to curb the ever growing trend.

Old age – and particularly the increasing numbers of older people globally and within the United Kingdom - is becoming a social and political phenomenon. Yet despite this, very little has been written on how the law – and especially mental disability law – intersects with old age. This is notwithstanding the fact that many older people may encounter conditions that impact their mental or cognitive abilities, and proportionally, may therefore be greatly affected by this area of law. By drawing on a number of theories – sometimes termed ‘relational’ theories – which are derived predominantly from feminist theory, this thesis seeks to explore the adequacy of mental disability law for safeguarding health and welfare-related decision-making of older adults in three areas; where an older person has been subjected to ageism, where they have been the victim of interpersonal abuse, and where they have dementia and may lack mental capacity. Within this broader goal, this thesis has two specific aims. First, to explicitly critique and challenge the adequacy of the law as it is applied in these circumstances. It is suggested in particular that a deeper analysis of the law in both its previous and current forms betrays the liberal and unduly individualistic roots of the legislative framework. These are roots that are predicated on non-interference, and an idealistic paradigm of the rational, autonomous, and healthy bodied individual. This – it is contended throughout – is an unsuitable philosophy to underpin the law, particularly where the law engages with older adults. Second, this thesis aims to navigate a more suitable pathway within the law as it currently exists. While operating as a tool to critique the legislative framework and its underpinning philosophy, it is argued that the theories drawn upon throughout the thesis also have the potential to highlight how the law could be implemented in such a way so as to emphasise the importance of the realities of the lived experiences of old age, and particularly the experience of ageism, abuse, and dementia. Crucially, it is also suggested that such theories can help the law pay greater attention to the complex web of relationships – both positive and negative; personal and societal – that an older person may find themselves embedded within, and that frequently take on an added significance in old age.

The aim of this study is to investigate how social workers, within the social services, supports and helps older women who have been/are victims to violence in close relationships. The purpose is also to gain understanding of the social workers experiences with this group. Interviews with social workers within this area, relationship violence unit in Stockholm, has been a method to collect information for the purpose of this study. The material has been analyzed from several points of view: organizational, grass- roots bureaucracy, discretionand intersectionality. As a result, to this study, some lacking in discretion are shown. The results shows lacking in discretion in forms of e.g resources, and interactivity among different units regarding this group. In conclusion, improving arrangement concerning elderly violence victims are being discussed. / Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka hur socialsekreterare inom socialtjänstens relationsvåldsenheter arbetar för att hjälpa och stödja äldre kvinnor som har blivit utsatta för våld i nära relationer. Vidare var syftet med studien att få en ökad förståelse för socialsekreterares erfarenheter av arbetet med våldsutsatta äldre kvinnor. För att kunna besvara studiens syfte och dess frågeställningar har empiri inhämtats genom enskilda intervjuer med socialsekreterare verksamma inom socialtjänstens relationsvåldsenhet i Stockholms Stad. Empirin har analyserats utifrån de teoretiska begreppen: organisation, handlingsutrymme och intersektionalitet. Studiens resultat visar på brister vad gäller samverkan, sviktande kompetens samt utmaningar gällande handlingsutrymmet. Vidare redogörs för betydelsen av att äldre kan vara särskilt sårbara, samt hur behovet av stöd ställs i relation till bristfälliga resurser. Avslutningsvis diskuteras möjliga förbättringsområden inom relationsvåldsenheten för att öka möjligheten att tillgodose våldsutsatta äldre kvinnors stödbehov.

Bakgrund: Äldre personer är en globalt snabbt framväxande population och majoriteten av personer i behov av akutsjukvård utgörs av äldre personer. Våld mot äldre personer kan leda till allvarliga konsekvenser och akutsjukvården spelar en viktig roll gällande identifiering av våld mot äldre. Då våldet sällan identifieras, är identifiering av våldsutsatta äldre personer numera en global folkhälsoprioritet. Syfte: Syftet var att belysa faktorer som identifierar våldsutsatta äldre personer inom akutsjukvård. Metod: En litteraturöversikt med systematisk metod valdes som metod. Datainsamlingen i databaserna PubMed och CINAHL resulterade i femton vetenskapliga artiklar, vilka sammanställdes genom en integrerad analys. Resultat: I resultatet framkom faktorer som identifierade våldsutsatta äldre personer inom akutsjukvård, genom kategorin “Riskfaktorer” framkom riskfaktorer vilka ökade sannolikheten våldsutsatthet utifrån underkategorierna; Högre ålder, Kvinnligt kön, Närvaro av sjukdom och Historik av våldsutsatthet. I kategorin “Skadefaktorer” framkom typiska skador hos våldsutsatta äldre personer utifrån underkategorierna; Hudskador, Huvudskador, Övre extremitetsskador samt Frakturer. I kategorin “Sociala faktorer” framkom ökad våldsutsatthet vid låg inkomst och bristande socialt nätverk samt om den äldre var ensamboende med förövaren utifrån underkategorierna; Social isolering, Boendesituation och Lägre socioekonomisk status. Slutsats: Typiska riskfaktorer och sociala faktorer för våldsutsatta äldre påverkar misstankegraden av äldres våldsutsatthet, vilka kan användas som stöd inom akutsjukvård för att identifiera våldsutsatta äldre personer. Äldre personers skador ska bedömas kliniskt utifrån tecken som ökar misstankegraden gällande våldsorsakade skador hos äldre. Identifieringen kräver ett personcentrerat perspektiv med hänsyn till sjukdomstillstånd eller upplevelser som påverkar äldres kommunikation om våldsutsatthet. / Background: The population of elderly people is growing rapidly on a global scale, and the majority of people in need of emergency medical care is made up of this age group. Elder abuse can lead to serious consequences and the emergency medical services play an important role in identifying elder abuse. As the abuse rarely is identified, identification of elder abuse is currently seen as a global public health priority. Aim: The aim of the study was to illuminate factors that identify elder abuse victims within the emergency medical services. Method: The study consists of a literature review with a systematic method. Fifteen scientific articles were collected through PubMed and CINAHL databases and compiled through an integrated analysis. Result: Factors that identify elder abuse victims in emergency medical services emerged through the category “Risk factors”, which showed factors that increased the likelihood of elder abuse based on the subcategories; Older age, Female sex, Presence of illness and History of abuse. The category “Injury factors” revealed typical injuries in elder abuse victims based on the subcategories; Skin injuries, Head injuries, Upper extremity injuries and Fractures. The category “Social factors” revealed increased abuse in cases of low income and lack of social network and if the elderly lived alone with the perpetrator, based on the subcategories; Social isolation, Housing situation and Lower socioeconomic status. Conclusion: Typical risk factors and social factors for elder abuse affects the degree of suspicion of elder abuse, which can be used in emergency medical services, as support to identify elder abuse. Elderly people's injuries must be assessed clinically based on signs that increase the degree of suspicion regarding injuries caused by elder abuse. The identification requires a person centred approach, taking into account medical conditions or experiences that affect the elderly's communication about exposure to violence.

Bakgrund: Forskning om missförhållanden visar att äldre som bor på särskilda boenden utsätts för olika former av missförhållanden. De olika formerna av missförhållanden som sker inom äldreomsorgen kommer till uttryck på olika sätt, såsom psykisk och fysisk vanvård samt försummelse. Syfte: Syftet med studien var att undersöka hur omvårdnadspersonal uppfattar eventuella missförhållanden inom äldreomsorgen och varför de tror att missförhållanden uppstår på särskilda boenden. Syftet var även att utifrån Theory of Reasoned Action tolka omvårdnadspersonalens potentiella agerande i situationer då det uppstår missförhållanden. Metod: Studien nyttjade en kvalitativ forskningsmetod i form av en vinjettstudie medfokusgrupper. Materialet analyserades genom tematisk analys. Resultat: Resultatet visade att omvårdnadspersonalen hade olika uppfattningar kring missförhållanden. Brist i arbetsmiljö såsom tidsbrist, personalbrist och stress var troliga orsaker till missförhållanden. Genom Theory of Reasoned Action indikerades att kollegors påverkan, så kallade ”subjektiva normer” och egna attityder kan bidra till en förståelse om varför missförhållanden uppstår på särskilda boenden. / Background: Research on elder abuse shows that elderly people living in nursing homes are exposed to various forms of abuse. The various forms of abuse that occur in elderly care are expressed in different ways, such as mental and physical abuse, and neglect. Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate how nursing staff perceive possible elder abuse in elderly care and why they believe that elder abuse occurs in nursing homes. The aim was also to interpret the nursing staff's potential actions in situations where elder abuse occurs based on the Theory of Reasoned Action. Method: The study used a vignette methodology with four focus group interviews. The material was analysed through thematic analysis. Results: The results showed that nursing staff had different perceptions of elder abuse. The respondents believed that, among other things, deficiencies in the work environment such as lack of time, staff shortages and stress were likely reasons for elder abuse. The Theory of Reasoned Action indicated that colleagues' influence, also known as "subjective norms" and their own attitudes can contribute to an understanding of why elder abuse occurs in nursing home.

From an intersectional perspective, we examine how the vulnerability of older women to intimate partner violence is adressed in the social service´s governing documents and in professional´s description of their work. To fulfill this objective and best formulate our study, we have chosen to combine two qualitative methods, document analysis with an interview study. Older women and their vulnerability to intimate partner violence are largely invisible in both research, policy documents and in the descriptions of the professional social work with intimate partner violence in older women. The lack of standard definitions and unifromity in research makes it difficult to get a comprehensive picture of the problem´s prevalence and its meaning. It also means that the professionals can not acquire sufficient knowledge, feeling thet they have lack of knowledge on the subject. Overall, our conclusion is that the social work with older women´s vulnerability to initmate partner violence is almost invisible. Which means that there is probably a large unknown number of older women who are exposed to violence in a close relationship.