ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the nature and patterns of elder abuse in domestic settings in Akwa Ibom State. Poverty and abuse of the elderly are widespread and a serious social problem in Nigeria, as in most parts of the African continent. The concept of elder abuse is not well known in Akwa Ibom State, but the experience is commonplace. Socio-demographic characteristics of respondents show that out of the 5,600 respondents used for the study, 2,558 were males and 3,042 were females; 2,223 were aged between 70 and 74, 2,086 were aged between 75 and 79, and 1,291 were aged 80 and above. The results also revealed financial/material abuse as the second most common form of abuse experienced by the elderly in Akwa Ibom State. Poverty is the major reason why 6.4 percent of the elderly in Akwa Ibom State are still working and 16 percent are involved in various economic activities in spite of their advanced ages.
