Abstract
Despite the rapid growth of the elderly African American population in the U.S., elder abuse and neglect in African American families continue to be underdeveloped areas of study. This article presents an ecological and culturally informed framework for the study of elder abuse in African American populations. The model was developed based on Bronfenbrenner's Human Ecological Theory. The model identifies risk factors associated with different systems that have an influence on the lives of African American families. Cultural protective factors also are identified in the model. The model is intended to provide an understanding of elder abuse and neglect in African American families by considering the influence of contextual factors such as the legacy of slavery, social exclusion, and structural segregation and racism. Specific suggestions for practice are proposed according to cultural strengths of African American communities as well as the ecological premises of the model.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 75-88 |
| Number of pages | 14 |
| Journal | Journal of Elder Abuse and Neglect |
| Volume | 23 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jan 2011 |
Funding
This research was supported by the Michigan Department of Community Health. Address correspondence to Sheena R. Horsford, BA, Michigan State University, 3D, Human Ecology, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA. E-mail: [email protected]
Keywords
- African american populations
- Contextual risk factors
- Cultural strengths
- Elder abuse and neglect
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Geriatrics and Gerontology
- Social Sciences (miscellaneous)
