Elder abuse and human rights : a literature review with a focus on Korean older people in overseas countries

Elder abuse has become an emerging social concern that violates the human rights of older people around the world. The purpose of this literature review is to identify what is known about the nature, prevalence and consequences of elder abuse and neglect among Korean older people living in overseas countries. An electronic literature search was conducted in computerized bibliographic databases, coupled with reviewing related books and documents. The findings of the study show that elder mistreatment existed among Korean immigrants in some western countries. The problem has remained hidden due in part to the cultural characteristics and social situations of older migrants. A few studies with Korean Americans have examined differences and similarities between Koreans and other ethnic groups in relation to older people’s perception of elder abuse and their help-seeking patterns. It was argued that, although influenced by cultural factors, elder mistreatment should be recognised as a human rights violation, rather than a family matter or a cultural norm.