Abstract
The focus of this chapter is on abuse of elderly people as a traumatic event. For many of the world’s elders, whose psychological well-being has been compromised by poverty, illness, war, and famine, abuse can have a devastating effect. Although there is conflicting evidence concerning the susceptibility of older persons to severe stress (they may be no more, and possibly even less, vulnerable to the psychological effects of severe trauma or negative life events than younger persons), anecdotal reports show that late-life stressors can cause a recurrence of symptoms related to early traumatic experiences. Unfortunately some conditions, like forgetfulness, anxiety, and depression, are often mistakenly considered to be the inevitable consequences of aging.
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Wolf, R.S., Bennett, G., Daichman, L. (2004). Abuse of Older People. In: Green, B.L., et al. Trauma Interventions in War and Peace. International and Cultural Psychology Series. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-306-47968-7_6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-306-47968-7_6
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
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