Social workers dealing with situations of abuse against adults and older people
A research study in an Italian region
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 6457301 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Francesca Corradini (0000-0003-4958-6172, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2024 |
| Volume | 27 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 4-14 |
| Publication date | 2024-12-04 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | The Journal of Adult Protection (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1466-8203 • E-ISSN: 2042-8669 |
| Publisher | Emerald Publishing Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1108/jap-08-2024-0047 |
| OpenAlex | W4405006551 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 2 |
| References cited | 21 |
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the point of view and the interventions of social workers working in local authority social services on the issue of abuse against vulnerable adults and older people. The cases are analyzed from the perspective of dangerous care, considering the interpersonal level of violence and the structural and contextual conditions. Design/methodology/approach This research uses a qualitative methodology; 49 semistructured interviews with social workers across seven districts in a province in Northern Italy were carried out. The interviews included both open-ended questions and the description of specific cases. Findings This study highlights how the shortcomings in the welfare system (lack of legislation, dedicated services and protocols between different services) and the complexity of cases (often involving family members with personal issues) negatively impact social workers’ professional practice. Social workers often operate in solitude and encounter ethical dilemmas. This isolation can lead them to adopt an approach aimed at controlling situations, which may not always take into account the preferences of the individuals directly involved. Research limitations/implications This study captures the perspectives of social workers within a limited geographic area. To gain a more comprehensive understanding, it would be beneficial to extend research to a national level. Another limitation is the absence of the opinion of those directly involved. Originality/value There is currently no research in Italy that explores the opinions of social workers on this issue, which, in general, is little studied. The findings of this research can be highly valuable for professionals and policymakers to organize services and develop intervention protocols, which are currently lacking in the areas where the study was conducted
Elder abuse · Environmental health · Older people · Poison control · Political science · Aging, Elder Care, and Social Issues · Elder Abuse and Neglect · Geriatric Care and Nursing Homes · Human Factors and Ergonomics · Medicine · Psychology · Social Work · Gerontology
Theoretical approaches to elder abuse
Violence Prevention Strategies for People with Intellectual Disabilities
Access to Justice for Victims/Survivors of Elder Abuse
Domestic abuse and older people
Dangerous care
Negotiating safety and vulnerability in everyday life
Preventing Harm to Vulnerable Older Adults
Intersectional Stigma and Late-Life Intimate-Partner and Sexual Violence
Gaining Access to Possibly Abused or Neglected Adults in England
These Are Vulnerable People Who Don’t Have a Voice’
A Social Work Perspective on How Ageist Language, Discourses and Understandings Negatively Frame Older People and Why Taking a Critical Social Work Stance Is Essential
Using thematic analysis in psychology
| Unique citing works | 2 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 2 |
| Citation span | 2025 - 2025 (1) |
| Citation velocity | recent |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 2 |