ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews some of the major definitions of abuse of older people, and discusses some of the issues and problems arising from these. While cognitive-behavioural approaches are deemed to be beneficial in working with elder abuse, this is not meant to imply a privileging of either psychopathological or socio-environmental aetiologies of abuse. Rather, it is presented as a micro-level response within the repertoire of the social work practitioner to issues that operate on numerous levels and across many dimensions within care management practice. Contexts and settings are important to a cognitive-behavioural understanding of elder abuse. The context may provide the trigger or cue for a particular behaviour, or may provide the setting in which the behaviour is rewarded. Perceptions and associations based on past experiences may evoke certain responses in certain contemporary situations.
