The abuse, neglect and mistreatment of older people in care homes and hospitals in England: observations on the potential for secondary data analysis

This study has investigated what sources of data exist on the subject of elder abuse in care

home and hospital settings in England. It was commissioned by the Department of Health and

Comic Relief. We used a broad definition of elder abuse to cover mistreatment, neglect and

abuse. Some of these subjects are criminal offences; others are contrary to professional codes,

service standards or breaches of human rights. Defining elder abuse is not easy, as the recent

study of definitions produced for this programme of research (PANICOA) confirms (Dixon et

al 2009). The main part of this study involved ‘desk research’ – an exploration of what data is

collected, why, by whom and about what. In addition, a set of interviews was undertaken

with people who collect and analyse information on this subject and those who make use of

such information to uphold older people’s rights. We found that data are scarce and limited,

definitions and collection are unsystematised centrally and locally, and currently demand

collation from various and disparate sources.