Elder Abuse: Two Native American Views

doi:10.1093/geront/38.5.538

Elder Abuse: Two Native American Views

¹Department of Adult and Geriatric Health, School of Nursing The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
²U.S. Public Health Service Indian Health Service
³Department of Nursing The University of North Carolina at Pembroke
⁴Department of Social and Administrative Systems, School of Nursing The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Address correspondence to Margaret F. Hudson, PhD, RN, Associate Professor of Nursing, Carrington Hall CB 7460, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7460. E-mail: rhudsonn{at}email.unc.edu

Received April 6, 1998.
Accepted August 12, 1998.

Abstract

In order to gain a greater understanding of what “elder abuse” means to the American public, a random sample of adults from seven culturally diverse counties in North Carolina was interviewed. Two of the six Native American groups residing in North Carolina were represented in the sample. The two Native American groups' responses were compared with each other and with the views of a panel of elder mistreatment experts. There were areas of agreement and disagreement. The relevance of the findings is discussed in relation to research, practice, education, and policy.