Elder abuse in Saudi Arabia: A systematic review

Abstract

Background: Elder abuse is a common global problem that is certainly preventable. The first step to tackling elder abuse is by researching its prevalence and acknowledging it as a prevailing problem. However, there is a lack of studies on elder abuse in Saudi Arabia. In this review, the socio-forensic problem of elder abuse in Saudi Arabia is addressed.  Methods: The PubMed database was systematically searched for articles on elder abuse in Saudi Arabia from inception to 1 July 2022. Search terms included “elder abuse”, “elderly abuse”, “geriatric abuse”, “aged abuse”, “senior abuse”, and “elder maltreatment”. In addition, to detect studies reported from Saudi Arabia, the following search terms were included: “Saudi Arabia”, “KSA”, and “Kingdom of Saudi Arabia”. The search results were screened for relevant articles. Studies from Saudi Arabia that addressed elder abuse were included in this review. Studies from other countries and studies that addressed abuse in other age groups were excluded.  Results: A very high percentage of the elderly in shelter homes were found to have experienced abuse, especially psychological, which resulted in an array of mental health implications such as anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders. A high level of awareness of elder abuse, in addition to a high sense of responsibility towards the elderly, was reported.  Conclusions: As the elderly represent a significant percentage of the population in Saudi Arabia, and with the community being heavily family-centered, it is recommended to increase dedicated efforts towards nationwide research on elder abuse and to formulate effective national programs to ensure its prevention in Saudi Arabia.