Additional types of elder abuse? Empirical evidence from Zambia

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to bring out additional types of elder abuse to the existing scientific literature on elder abuse. On the basis of the qualitative research done in one of the rural districts [Kalulu District] of Zambia with community leaders and organizations dealing with the problem of elder abuse, it is evident that besides physical, financial/material, verbal and neglect abuses as widely shown in the available scientific literature on elder abuse, additional two types of elder abuse are also taking place in Zambia. These are spiritual abuse and political abuse. Since social workers are among the main frontline workers in addressing the problem of elder abuse, this article argues that these revelations have serious implications on social work education and practice as well as on future researches with regard to the global phenomenon of elder abuse. This is because the revelations suggest new ways of thinking about the problem of elder abuse. Thus the main field of application of this article is social work.