What is a contributing factor to underreporting and underidentifying elder maltreatment cases?

Cultural biases against the elderly significantly contribute to the underreporting and underidentifying of elder maltreatment cases. Society often holds stereotypes that can lead to the perception that older individuals are less valuable or that their mistreatment is less significant. This devaluation may result in family members, caregivers, or even healthcare providers being less likely to recognize, report, or intervene in cases of abuse or neglect. These biases create a barrier to addressing the problem, as victims might not feel empowered to speak out or seek help due to societal attitudes.

In contrast, while overpopulation of elderly individuals or lack of access to healthcare may influence overall care and oversight, they do not directly impact the perception and acknowledgment of elder maltreatment in the same way that cultural biases do. Similarly, underfunding of social services can impede support systems, but it is the cultural attitudes that often lead individuals to dismiss or overlook the seriousness of abuse, making bias the primary contributing factor to underreporting.