Certain societal attitudes may contribute to violence against older people and make it easier for abuse to continue without detection or intervention. These factors include the devaluation of and lack of respect for older adults and society’s belief that what goes on in the home is a private, “family matter.”When older people are regarded as insignificant, society fails to recognize the importance of assuring dignified, supportive, and nonabusive life circumstances for every older person. The idea that what happens at home is private can be a major factor in keeping an older person locked in an abusive or neglectful situation. Those outside the family who observe or suspect abuse or neglect may fail to intervene because they believe “it’s a family problem and none of my business” or because they are afraid they are misinterpreting a private quarrel. Shame and embarrassment often make it difficult for older persons to reveal abuse. They don’t want others to know that such events occur in their families.Certain cultural values, beliefs, and traditions influence family dynamics, intergenerationalrelationships, and ways in which families define their roles and responsibilities and respond todaily challenges. These differences make some situations difficult to distinguish from abuseor neglect. Older individuals who are ethnic minorities, particularly recent immigrants, mayface language barriers and financial or emotional dependence that influence their ability orwillingness to report abuse.Although definitions of abuse may vary across diverse cultural, ethnic, and religious communities, it is important not to ignore signs of abuse by attributing the behaviors to cultural differences. For example, some cultures do not honor the basic rights of women, and older women in these cultures may not realize they are being abused. They probably would not call for help outside the family and may not even know that help is available.Persons working with older people in potentially abusive situations need to be sensitive to cultural differences and intervene accordingly. Formulating culturally sensitive prevention and intervention efforts requires an understanding of roles and responsibilities within the family and help-seeking behaviors.
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