IL MALTRATTAMENTO DELL’ANZIANO: ASPETTI MEDICO-LEGALI ED IPOTESI DI PREVENZIONE DI UN FENOMENO SOMMERSO

Background: Elder abuse is currently a worldwide problem. The literature reports that one elderly person out of six is a potential victim. Aims: To analyse cases reported to the judicial authorities in the territory of Genoa in the period 2010–2023, to investigate the features of elder abuse, to assess the trend of this phenomenon and to propose preventive strategies. Methods: We analysed the data on reports of abuse passed by the Court of Genoa in the period 2020–2023 concerning physical and mental maltreatment, abandonment and financial exploitation of elderly subjects. These data were compared with those recorded in the previous 10-year period and in the literature. Results: In the period 2020–2023, 200 cases of elder abuse were identified (versus 156 in the period 2015-2019 and 62 in the period 2010-2014): 65 cases of domestic violence, 5 cases of abuse of the means of correction, 8 cases of caregiver neglect, 85 cases of physical injury, 36 cases of financial exploitation and 1 case of sexual abuse. Discussion: Abuse was seen to be perpetrated most frequently in the domestic setting and by the victims’ relatives. The main risk factors were female gender and the victim’s dependence on others, the maltreating subject’s mental illness and substance abuse. Conclusions: We documented a progressive increase in the number of abuses reported to the judicial authority; this reflects greater awareness of the problem. However, our figures remained well below the incidence estimated in the literature. It is necessary to train healthcare personnel to identify and manage cases of suspected abuse, and to provide adequate support in situations at risk.