Call for articles in the magazine Gerontology and Society on the subject of the mistreatment of older adults ( November 2020)

Titled The Mistreatment of Older Adults: Definitions, public actions and the experiences of stakeholders, this issue of the magazine is edited by Marie Beaulieu (Québec) and Françoise Le Borgne-Uguen (France).

Three reflective and analytical themes are specifically sought :

1. Construction and deconstruction of the concept of mistreatment of older adults

Here is a summary of the first theme:

‘The first series of articles will focus on the definitions of the mistreatment of older adults. Numerous conceptual debates still need to be clarified as the concept of mistreatment has not been the subject of rigorous criticism (Harbison, 2016). Georgia Anetzberger (2018) identifies several approaches that could be combined to look at the problem of mistreatment of older adults: as a social and public health problem, a symptom of aging, a crime, a human rights violation, family or conjugal violence. In effect, mistreatment constitutes a problem with several dimensions – interpersonal, social, judicial, health, institutional and political relations and citizenship. Each of these approaches leads to a singular definition of mistreatment.’

2. Public policies and national mechanisms to counter mistreatment

Here is an overview of the contents under the second theme:

‘Close to two decades after the adoption of the Madrid Plan by the World Health Organisation, many stakeholders, including WHO experts, acknowledge the diversity of approaches and mechanisms based on heterogeneous degrees of public commitments. Each country or state elaborates a unique response when faced with the mistreatment of older adults, which prompts questions on the emergence, the development, the implementation, and the evaluation of these policies and mechanisms.’

3. A reflection on expériences and interventions in situations of mistreatment

Finally:

‘A third dimension of the question focuses on mistreatment experiences seen as a means to link knowledge, perhaps understand current controversies. Following legal and regulatory measures, a certain number of initiatives were implemented in different organisational contexts. Description of these initiatives would fall under the Theme 2 heading. Here, texts would analyze these experiences and their effects on stakeholders and organisations concerned with mistreatment (older adults, families and friends, representatives, legal, health, social professionals, elected officials, activists, users’ committees, etc.). Researchers and others involved are invited to express themselves, share their experiences, and propose pathways to enrich policies and practices of both prevention and identification as well as direct intervention in mistreatment situations.

Three types of proposals will be accepted and published in this review:

• ‘Original articles’ composed of contributions from different human and social sciences disciplines and medical sciences that must respect scientific publication standards.
• ‘Reports from the field and perspectives’ are welcomed on various subjects: reports on professional practices or a measure taken in a social, institutional or political context, an evaluation of a program, etc.
• ‘Free expression’ texts give a voice to various public figures (politicians, citizens, associations, professionals, researchers…) who wish to share a reflection, report on a debate, discuss a scheme or measure in a particular context.

All information concerning the publication of this issue can be found in the call for papers. Here is a summary:

• Submission date: June 1, 2021
• Editorial committee decisions: July 2021
• External peer-review reports: July 2021
• Final version: February 2022
• Publication: June 2022
• For all information or questions : cnavgerontologieetsociete@cnav.fr