How do U.S. Chinese older adults view elder mistreatment?: findings from a community-based participatory research study.

Objective: This study examines the perception, knowledge, and help-seeking tendency toward elder mistreatment among Chinese older adults.

Method: A community-based participatory research approach was implemented to partner with the Chicago's Chinese community. A total of 39 Chinese older adults (age 60+) participated in focus group interviews.

Loneliness and mistreatment of older Chinese women: does social support matter?

The objectives of this study are to: (a) examine the association of loneliness and mistreatment of older Chinese women, and (b) examine the potential modifying effect of social support on these associations. We conducted a cross-sectional study of 141 elderly women presented to an urban medical center. After adjusting for confounders, every 1-point increase in the loneliness score was associated with 44% increased risk for mistreatment.

A cross-sectional population-based study of elder self-neglect and psychological, health, and social factors in a biracial community.

Objective: Elder self-neglect is an important public health issue; however, its association with psychological, health, and social factors remains unclear. This study aimed to (1) examine the associations between self-neglect severity and psychological, health, and social factors (2) examine the racial/ethnic differences in these associations.

Methods: We conducted a biracial population-based study in a geographically defined community in Chicago: Chicago Health Aging Project.

Health and aging in a Chinese population: urban and rural disparities.

Aim: The objective of this study was to compare the rural and urban differences in sociodemographic, health and psychosocial factors in a Chinese aging population.

Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study of 135 rural and 269 urban subjects aged 60 years or greater was performed in a community-dwelling Chinese population. Variables collected included sociodemographic, health-related and psychosocial measures.

Physical function decline and the risk of elder self-neglect in a community-dwelling population.

Purpose: This longitudinal study examines the association between physical function decline and the risk of elder self-neglect in a community-dwelling population.

Design And Methods: Of the 5,570 participants in the Chicago Health Aging Project, 1,068 were reported to social services agency for suspected elder self-neglect from 1993 to 2005. The primary predictor was objectively assessed physical function using decline in physical performance testing.

Self-neglect and cognitive function among community-dwelling older persons.

Objective: Elder self-neglect is a common public health issue, but it is unclear to what degree it is associated with cognitive function. This study aimed to examine the cross-sectional association between self-neglect and cognitive function.

Methods: Chicago Health and Aging Project (CHAP) is a population-based epidemiological study conducted in a geographically defined community in Chicago (N = 8698): we identified 1094 CHAP participants who had self-neglect reported to social services agency, which assessed the self-neglect severity.

Cross-sectional study of the characteristics of reported elder self-neglect in a community-dwelling population: findings from a population-based cohort.

Background: Elder self-neglect is an important public health issue. However, little is known about the characteristics of self-neglect and its association with social factors among community-dwelling populations.

Objectives: (1) To examine the sociodemographic, health-related and psychosocial characteristics of reported elder self-neglect; (2) to examine the association of social network and social engagement with reported self-neglect.

Elder self-neglect and abuse and mortality risk in a community-dwelling population.

Context: Both elder self-neglect and abuse have become increasingly prominent public health issues. The association of either elder self-neglect or abuse with mortality remains unclear.

Objective: To examine the relationship of elder self-neglect or abuse reported to social services agencies with all-cause mortality among a community-dwelling elderly population.

The associations of gender, depression and elder mistreatment in a community-dwelling Chinese population: the modifying effect of social support.

The aims of this study are to: (1) examine the gender differences in the association of depression and elder mistreatment (EM) in a community-dwelling Chinese population; and (2) examine the potential differential modifying effect of greater social support on these associations. We conducted a cross-sectional study of 141 women and 270 men aged 60 years or greater who presented to an urban medical center. EM was assessed using the modified Vulnerability to Abuse Screening Scale (VASS) and depression was assessed using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and overall social support was measured using the Social Support Index (SSI).

Is greater self-neglect severity associated with lower levels of physical function?

Objective: This study examined the association between severity of self-neglect and physical function in a population of community-dwelling older adults.

Method: Participants were older adults (N = 1,094) reported to the Chicago Department on Aging for suspected self-neglect from 1993 to 2005, who also participated in the Chicago Health Aging Project. The primary outcome of physical function was assessed using physical performance tests.

Relation of hemoglobin to level of cognitive function in older persons.

Background: While decreased hemoglobin concentration is common in the elderly, the relationship of the entire range of hemoglobin concentrations with cognitive function is not well understood.

Methods: Cross-sectional analyses were conducted utilizing data from community-dwelling, older persons participating in the Rush Memory and Aging Project. Proximate to first available hemoglobin measurement, 21 cognitive tests were administered to measure global cognitive function along with semantic memory, episodic memory, working memory, perceptual speed and visuospatial abilities.

A population-based study of hemoglobin, race, and mortality in elderly persons.

Background: Anemia is associated with increased mortality risk. The impact of mildly low hemoglobin concentration (Hb) on risk for mortality remains unclear, especially among blacks. We examined the racial differences between Hb and mortality.

Is greater social support a protective factor against elder mistreatment?

Background: Elder mistreatment (EM) is a pervasive global health issue and a violation of basic human rights. Our prior study indicates that EM is alarmingly common in an urban Chinese population, yet little is known about risk and/or protective factors for EM.

Objective: This study's goal was to examine the association of social support with the risk of EM and underlying hypothesis is that greater social support is associated with a lower risk for EM.

Depression and elder abuse and neglect among a community-dwelling Chinese elderly population.

Our recent survey of an elderly cohort in mainland China suggests that elder abuse and neglect are common. Unfortunately, there is minimal knowledge about the risk factors for elder abuse and neglect among this population. We aimed to examine depression as a risk factor for elder abuse and neglect among Chinese elderly.

Elder abuse and neglect in an urban chinese population.

This study aims to investigate the prevalence of elder abuse and neglect in an urban Chinese population. A cross-sectional study was performed in a major urban medical center in NanJing, China. A total of 412 participants completed the survey and 145 (35%) participants screened positive for elder abuse and neglect.

Loneliness in older chinese adults: a risk factor for elder mistreatment.

Objectives: To examine loneliness as a risk factor for elder mistreatment in an urban, community-dwelling Chinese population.

Design: Cross-sectional descriptive study.

Setting: Major urban medical center in NanJing, China.

Decision-making capacity: the core of self-neglect.

Self-neglect in the elderly is a pervasive public health issue that affects 1.2 million elderly each year. In working with self-neglect cases, ethical issues are often raised that challenge all professionals.