Abstract
Background/Purpose: Elder mistreatment (EM) is common among older adults with cognitive impairment. However, we have limited understanding of how cognitive function influence help-seeking among older immigrants who reported different types of mistreatments. The purpose of the study was to examine the associations between cognitive function and help-seeking mong older Chinese Americans who reported mistreatment.
Methods: Data were from the Population Study of Chinese Elderly in Chicago (PINE). Mini-Mental State Examination, East Boston Memory Test, Digit Span Backwards, and Symbol Digit Modalities Test were used to assess cognitive Function. Informal/formal help-seeking intentions and behaviors were measured. Descriptive statistics linear regression, and logistic regression were used to analyze the data.
Results: A total of 450 participants reported EM (age: 72.73 ± 8.03 years old). Participants who suffered caregiver neglect had the lowest global assessment, episodic memory, executive function, and working memory across all types of EM. For intentions of seeking informal sources, higher episodic memory was associated with an increase in intentions among participants with poly-victimization (p < .05). For intentions of seeking formal sources, higher executive function was associated with a decrease in intentions among those with psychological mistreatment (p < .05). Higher working memory was associated with a decrease in intentions among those with poly-victimization (p < .05) and caregiver neglect (p < .001). For help-seeking behaviors, Chinese elders with psychological mistreatment who had higher executive function were more likely to seek help from any sources (p < .05). Chinese elders with financial exploitation who had higher global cognition were more likely to seek help from informal sources (p < .05).
Conclusions: This study findings underscore the associations between cognitive domains and help-seeking among this underserved population. Interventions to enhance different aspects of cognitive function should be developed to increase help-seeking among Chinese older adults who reported different mistreatments.