ABSTRACT
Home care violence against older adults and their caregivers is presented from a gerontology, psychology, and nursing science perspective. Vulnerability in old age is presented as a person-environment exchange process that can and must be shaped by individuals and supported on an institutional level by policymakers, local governments, local communities, and health professionals, as well as augmented by a societal discourse on avoidance of violence over the lifespan. This chapter focuses on the phenomenon of violence and its risk factors during the stages of old age associated with declining resources, increasing needs and dependence on care. Neglect and mutual violence in family care relationships are predominantly caused by caregiver distress and without an intent to harm or offend. As in child protection, cooperation between all professionals is necessary to identify violence or related risk factors in home care. The same applies for the development and implementation of adequate help. The article presents forms of violence and neglect, prevalence data, risk factors, and possibilities of prevention as well as a differentiated procedure in case of suspicion. Finally, it is briefly outlined how personal rights in home care could be reinforced in the future on the basis of (legal) protection recommendations. Where possible, a comparison with child protection is made.
