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RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT

THE PEACE INITIATIVE: ADDRESSING ELDER

ABUSE AND NEGLECT USING AN

INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH

Raudah Mohd Yunus, Noran Naqiah Hairi, Choo Wan Yuen (Department of Social and

Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya)

Malaysia is undergoing a rapid Older Persons (2011). PEACE is a five-package
demographic transition. By 2030, older adults will programme which aims at: 1) advancing EAN
comprise approximately 15% of Malaysia’s research and services through a coordinated,
population. On-going urbanization and changes multi-step approach, and; 2) safeguarding the
in social structures such as nuclearization of physical and mental well-being of vulnerable
family and rural-urban youth migration, have elders. Its long-term, ultimate goal is to prevent
predisposed older adults to higher risks of social and reduce the burden of EAN in Malaysia.
isolation, abuse and neglect. The aetiology of Taking
isolation, Taking into account the ecological model,
elder abuse and neglect (EAN) as framed by the PEACE forms an interdisciplinary collaboration
ecological model points to a combination of in order to tackle risk factors of EAN at different
factors that occur at multiple levels. These include levels. The partnership involves: 1) public health
individual, microsystem (e.g. family), exosystem practitioners (researchers, epidemiologists and
(e.g. social environment, extended relatives) and biostatisticians); 2) healthcare providers
macrosystem (e.g. culture, public policy, law). (primary care physicians, geriatricians and
nurses); 3) legal experts and lawyers; 4) state
Given t
Givenhis complexity, prevention and intervention nurses);
measures need to address each level or system health departments; 5) Department of Social
accordingly. This is possible only through an Welfare; 6) community-based organizations; 7)
interdisciplinary approach. policy-makers and; 8) media outlets and
journalists. Negeri Sembilan was chosen for the
The Prevent Elder Abuse and negleCt pilot phase, and programmes are being
initiativE (PEACE) began in early 2014, in line gradually expanded to other states.
with the vision of the National Health Policy for
Older Persons (2008) and National Policy for
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https:// resfom.um.edu.my Issue 1 Year 2018