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Abuse of older people

Guest Editors

Amanda Phelan, RGN, RM, PHN, RNT, BNS, MSc, PhD, Dublin City University, Ireland
Raudah M. Yunus, MBBCH, MPH, DrPH, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Malaysia


BMC Public Health is called submissions to our Collection on Abuse of older people. This Collection aims to advance understanding and intervention strategies regarding the prevalence, risk factors, and consequences of the abuse of older people. We welcomed submissions exploring various types of abuse, contributing factors, consequences on physical, mental, and social well-being, interventions, innovations in research methods, and policy implications for prevention and response.

New Content ItemThis Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3: Good Health & Well-Being, SDG5: Gender Equality, and SDG10: Reduced Inequalities.

Meet the Guest Editors

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Amanda Phelan, RGN, RM, PHN, RNT, BNS, MSc, PhD, Dublin City University, Ireland

Amanda Phelan is a full Professor in the School of Nursing, Psychotherapy and Community Health, in Dublin City University.
She previously worked in the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin, and the School of Nursing, Midwifery & Health Systems, in University College Dublin.
Dr Phelan has a research and teaching interest in adult safeguarding, public health, missed care, older people, and person-centred care. Amanda has published extensively and has contributed to health policy and is a board member in Third Age and Safeguarding Ireland.

Raudah M. Yunus, MBBCH, MPH, DrPH, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Malaysia; Medical College of Wisconsin, USA

Dr Raudah M. Yunus is a Public Health Medicine Specialist at the Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Faculty of Medicine, in Malaysia. She is currently pursuing a postdoctoral fellowship at the Medical College of Wisconsin, in the United States. Dr Yunus specializes in elder abuse and neglect, long-term care, caregiving for the dementia, and health equity.  She completed an MBBCH from Alexandria University (Egypt), after which she completed a Master of Public Health (MPH), and a Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) at the University of Malaya (Kuala Lumpur) in 2015 and 2018, respectively. Dr Yunus has widely published on elder abuse and neglect issues, including its under-reporting, health impact, measurement tools, and interventions. In her future endeavor, she aspires to focus at the intersection between elder care, abuse, bioethics, and life enhancement technologies.

About the Collection

BMC Public Health called for submissions to our Collection on Abuse of older people. 

This is a pressing public health issue with profound consequences for individuals, families, and communities worldwide. As the population is aging globally, understanding and addressing the various forms of abuse, neglect, and exploitation experienced by older adults become increasingly critical.

This Collection aimed to advance knowledge on the prevalence, risk factors, consequences, and interventions related to the abuse of older people and their safety. We welcome submissions across a broad range of topics including but not limited to:

  • Types and prevalence of abuse (physical, emotional, financial, sexual, neglect)
  • Factors contributing to abuse, such as caregiver characteristics, social isolation and social attitudes
  • Consequences of abuse on physical, mental, and social well-being
  • Interventions and strategies for preventing and addressing the abuse of older people
  • Innovations in abuse research methods and measurement
  • Policy and practice implications for abuse prevention and response


This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3: Good Health & Well-Being, SDG5: Gender Equality, and SDG10: Reduced Inequalities.
 

Image credit: ©Satjawat / stock.adobe.com

  1. Across continents and cultures, elder abuse remains a silent crisis, hidden behind closed doors. Vulnerable older adults face neglect, exploitation, and harm, often from those they trust most. Despite its deva...

    Authors: Tegene Atamenta Kitaw, Amsalu Baylie, Bruktawite Afework Tekle, Befkad Derese Tilahun, Addisu Getie, Biruk Beletew Abate, Sefineh Fenta Feleke, Alemu Birara Zemariam, Molla Azmeraw, Gizachew Yilak, Seada Seid and Ribka Nigatu Haile
    Citation: BMC Public Health 2025 25:2268
    Content type: Research Published on:

  2. Staff-to-resident abuse in institutional settings demands political attention and evidence-based interventions. Certified nursing assistants (CNAs) views and suggestions on preventing elder abuse can offer pra...

    Authors: Chunhong Shi, Xiya Li, Ming Chen, Yu Li, Sirui Fu and Yinhua Zhang
    Citation: BMC Public Health 2025 25:1687
    Content type: Research Published on:

Submission Guidelines

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This Collection welcomes submission of original Research Articles. Should you wish to submit a different article type, please read our submission guidelines to confirm that type is accepted by the journal. Articles for this Collection should be submitted via our submission system, Snapp. During the submission process you will be asked whether you are submitting to a Collection, please select "Abuse of older people" from the dropdown menu.

Articles will undergo the journal’s standard peer-review process and are subject to all of the journal’s standard policies. Articles will be added to the Collection as they are published.

The Editors have no competing interests with the submissions which they handle through the peer review process. The peer review of any submissions for which the Editors have competing interests is handled by another Editorial Board Member who has no competing interests.