A Study of Developing the Policies Addressing the Elder Abuse : Focus on the Laws and Programs Addressing Elder Abuse in the United States

노인학대 관련 정책 개발을 위한 일 고찰 : 미국의 노인학대 관련법과 서비스 정책을 중심으로

Recently, child abuse is mentioned in revised Child Welfare Law, on the other hand, elder abuse is not yet recognized as a social problem and little addressed in the field of social service. Like this, elder abuse has gotten less public and professional attention than other areas within the family abuse field. Despite the lack of attention to elder abuse, the number of elder abuse reports and incidents is likely to increase in the future. Based on the recognition that current effort and approach to elder abuse is not appropriate, this study attemped to briefly review laws and programs addressing elder abuse in the United States which have shaped in other contries. In the United States where various laws and programs that address elder abuse exit, there are incresing arguments that addressing elder abuse in the area of social service rather than in the criminal justice systems is more desirable. Because the most common form of elder abuse is not physical abuse but neglect including self-neglect. Self-neglect and neglect caused by caregivers' burden can not be addressed through criminal justice systems appropriately. From these experiences of the United States, the implications for policy, programs, and practice aimed at intervening elder abuse were discussed.