Service provider perceived barriers to addressing elder abuse: An elder abuse needs assessment
Date
2020-12
Authors
Peitz, Louise Mary
Major Professor
Advisor
Lee, Jeongeun
Svec, Joseph
Gilligan, Megan
Zarling, Amie
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Abstract
Recent attention has been drawn to the increasing prevalence of elder abuse in rural settings. This trend has called for more coordinated efforts to address elder abuse in the rural community. Current literature suggests that systematic obstacles are key issues that prevent service care providers from effectively providing the support needed in rural communities to prevent elder abuse. However, little work has been done to identify these obstacles and how to combat them. In this study, based on the Elder Abuse Needs Assessment of Iowa, we have examined the perceived barriers service providers face. Our sample includes 222 providers across Iowa who took an online survey. The survey was initially sent to members of the Coordinated Community Response team of Iowa, and forwarded to additional agencies and service providers across Iowa. Our findings indicated that service providers experienced similar barriers, despite the rurality component originally thought to influence these perceived barriers. Common themes described by the providers as barriers to addressing abuse were lack of collaborative efforts, funding, location, and lack of transportation resources. Using the Bioecological model, we interpret the results and highlight the need for future funding to alleviate the barriers service providers face in their agencies.
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thesis