Factors related to neglect and abuse in the elderly-a sample from İzmir

Objective: This research was carried out to determine the risk of neglect and abuse in the elderly in our region, to determine the relationship between the risk and the demographic characteristics, cognitive and functional competence of the elderly, addiction status, loneliness / social isolation status, and to reveal how these factors affect the risk. Material and Methods: The descriptive-cross-sectional study was carried out on 249 volunteers aged 65 and over, registered in the Family Health Center No. 24 in Konak, Izmir, between October 2019 and June 2021. The population of the research was 1180 people and the sample was 308 people. The demographic characteristics and health profiles of the elderly were determined by a questionnaire, their cognitive levels were determined by the Clock Draw Test, functional competence/dependence levels were determined by Katz's Activities of Daily Living Scale, loneliness levels were determined by the Loneliness Scale for the Elderly, and abuse risks were determined by the Hwalek-Sengstock Elderly Abuse Screening Test. Volunteers were divided into two groups according to the Hwalek-Sengstock Elderly Abuse Screening Test and were compared according to their demographic characteristics, chronic diseases, disability, addiction levels, cognitive levels, and loneliness status. Chi-square test and Fisher's Exact test were used to compare categorical data. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare continuous variables that did not fit the normal distribution. Logistic regression model was used for risk analysis. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant in all tests. Results: A total of 249 people, 161 of whom were female (64.7%) and 88 were male (35.3%), were included in our study. The ages of the participants ranged from 65 to 92, with a mean age of 75. Education and income levels were above the average of the elderly population in Turkey. 32.5% of the elderly in our study lived alone, 64.7% with their spouse and/or children. 95.2% of them had at least one chronic disease, 18.5% of them were disabled. According to the Clock Drawing test, 60.2% of them had good cognitive levels and 35.3% were found insufficient (4.5% could not be evaluated). 94.8% of the elderly were functionally independent and 5.2% were considered dependent. 39.4% of the elderly did not find themselves alone, 55% described partial loneliness, 4.4% found themselves seriously lonely and 1.2% very seriously lonely. Risk of abuse was found in 27 (10.8%) of the participants. As a result of multiple logistic regression analyzes, emotional and social loneliness and respiratory system diseases were found to be significant in predicting the risk of abuse. Loneliness was found to be the most important risk factor for abuse. It was determined that the risk of abuse was increased 3.9 times in those who defined severe loneliness compared to those who did not define loneliness. Conclusion: It was determined that emotional and social loneliness in elderly is the most important risk factor for abuse and neglect.