DOI: 10.5279/dk-sa-dda-1350
title: Ældremishandling - omsorgssvigt, 1987-88
title: Maltreatment of Old People - Failing Care, 1987-1988

description: Mange mennesker værger sig mod tanken, at mishandling mod ældre i hjemmet skulle eksistere i vort samfund. Eller de kan tro, at det er af sensationslyst, at nogen søger penge til at undersøge et sådant fænomen. Det er det ikke.     #  Sandheden er, at ældremishandling i hjemmet forekommer som et lille, men samtidig helt usynliggjort fænomen. Ved en konference arrangeret af Socialstyrelsen i Norge i marts måned 1987 fremvistes udenlandske undersøgelser, som tyder på, at et par procent af folkepensionisterne kan være udsat for mishandling eller trusler om mishandling, hvor det er pårørende, som udfører mishandlingen. Det antages også, at den i Sverige og Danmark tiltagende orientering mod hjemmepleje i stedet for institutionspleje kan komme til at skabe nye friktioner mennesker imellem, hvilket kan lede til en forøgelse af den vold, som udøves mod gamle. Det kan endvidere ikke udelukkes, at også stresset hjemmehjælpspersonale kan komme for skade at behandle de gamle dårligt - det vides, at noget sådant i sjældne tilfælde forekommer på institutioner. Overvejelser ved Socialstyrelsen i Sverige er mundet ud i, at disse spørgsmål må studeres videnskabeligt, specielt fordi der i såvel Danmark som Sverige savnes viden om problemets omfang. De omnibusundersøgelsesspørgsmål, der nu stilles i Danmark og Sverige samtidigt, er et første lille epidemiologisk trin på vejen mod at synliggøre fænomenet og mod at skabe det dataunderlag, som politikere, behandlere og arbejdsgrupper i social virksomhed behøver. Et mere omfattende og dybdeborende forskningsprojekt er under planlægning for et kommende svensk/dansk samarbejde
description: Many people are unwilling to accept the fact that maltreatment of old people in their homes exists in our society. Or they may think that people who apply for money in order to examine this phenomenon are sensation-seekers. This is not the case.     #  The truth is that maltreatment of old people in their homes exists as a small, 'invisibilized' phenomenon. At a conference held by the Directorate of Social Services (Socialstyrelsen) in Norway in March 1987 foreign surveys were presented which seem to show that a few per cent of the old-age pensioners may be subjected to maltreatment or threats of maltreatment by relatives. it is also assumed that the development in Denmark and Sweden towards offering care in the home rather than at an institution may result in new frictions between people, frictions which may lead to an increase in the violence which old people are confronted with. Furthermore, one cannot preclude the possibility that domestic help staff under strain may accidentally treat the old people badly - it is known that this happens at institutions in rare cases. The result of considerations of the Directorate of Social Services in Sweden has been that these questions should be dealt with scientifically, especially because nothing is known about the extent of the problem in Denmark or Sweden. The omnibus questions asked simultaneously in Denmark and Sweden is a first small epidemiological step towards rendering the problem visible and towards creating the data basis which politicians, social workers and working groups in social services need. A more comprehensive research project is planned for a future Swedish/Danish co-operation
description: Se abstract
description: See abstract