Bullying Among Older Adults : How to Recognize and Address an Unseen Epidemic

"This book provides a foundation for understanding bullying behaviors among older adults . . . and [fills] an important gap in a topic where so few other resources are available." —Mercedes Bern-Klug, Ph.D., M.S.W., M.A., John A. Hartford Geriatric Social Work Faculty Scholar, and Director, Aging Studies Program, University of Iowa "This much needed resource is well researched and full of practical tools that can be used by a wide range of practitioners. Anyone who works with older adults should keep this handy as a practical reference in their day to day work." — Judah L. Ronch, Ph.D., Dean and Professor, Erickson School, University of Maryland Baltimore County Unbeknownst to many, bullying is not an experience limited to childhood, but is an epidemic occurring far too often among older adults as well. Studies have revealed the alarmingly high rate at which older adults in senior programs and care settings are bullied by their peers, resulting in profoundly negative effects on the elders, the staff, and the community in which it is occurring. Bullying Among Older Adults is the first resource to address this critical issue, providing the knowledge and tools to recognize bullying and develop constructive ways to intervene and prevent it. As an expert on late-life bullying, author Robin Bonifas draws upon a growing body of research as well as the voices and actual experiences of the targets and perpetrators of bullying. She exposes the nature of this phenomenon and then presents positive, proactive ways for community-based or long-term care staff to minimize and prevent it from happening. Filled with practical resources and examples, this guide offers effective intervention strategies that including empathy training, empowerment strategies, bystander intervention, and more. Special features: • detailed, step-by-step anti-bullying interventions • effective coping strategies to minimize negative consequences for those bullied • pro-social activities to promote empathy • specialized approaches for residents with dementia or mental illness • learning activities, case studies, sample forms, and policy guidelines (also available as downloadable PDF files) Bullying Among Older Adults will be an invaluable resource in creating an atmosphere of caring and respect among both residents and staff. Unbeknownst to many, bullying is not an experience limited to childhood, but is an epidemic occurring far too often among older adults as well. Studies have revealed the alarmingly high rate at which older adults in senior programs and care settings are bullied by their peers, resulting in profoundly negative effects on the elders, the staff, and the community in which it is occurring. Bullying Among Older Adults is the first resource to address this critical issue, providing the knowledge and tools to recognize bullying and develop constructive ways to intervene and prevent it. As an expert on peer bullying among older adults, author Robin Bonifas draws upon a growing body of research as well as the voices and actual experiences of the targets and perpetrators of bullying. She exposes the nature of this phenomenon and then presents positive, proactive ways for community-based or long-term care staff to minimize and prevent it from happening. Filled with practical resources and examples, this book offers effective interventions, including empathy and civility training, empowerment strategies, bystander interventions, and more. Increase staff awareness and improve day-to-day interactions with: Detailed, step-by-step assessment strategies and antibullying interventions; Effective coping strategies to minimize negative consequences for those bullied; Pro-social activities to promote empathy and civility; Specialized approaches for residents with dementia or mental illness; Learning activities, case studies, sample forms, and policy guidelines (also available as downloadable PDFs). Bullying Among Older Adults is an invaluable resource in creating an atmosphere of caring and respect among both residents and staff. "Studies have revealed the alarmingly high rate at which older adults in senior programs and care settings are bullied by their peers, resulting in profoundly negative effects on the elders, the staff, and the community in which it is occurring. The book addresses this critical issue, providing the knowledge and tools to recognize bullying and develop constructive ways to intervene and prevent it. Bonifas presents positive and proactive ways that community-based or long-term care staff can minimize and prevent bullying among their residents. Filled with practical resources and examples - including learning activities, sample forms, and policy guidelines - this guide offers effective intervention strategies to address bullying, including empathy training, empowerment strategies, bystander intervention, and more."--Publisher description An introduction to bullying behaviors among older adults -- Bullying among older adults : what do we know? -- Understanding older individuals who bully and those who are bullied -- A framework for anti-bullying interventions -- Foundational approaches for individuals who bully -- Foundational approaches for individuals who are bullied -- Bullying assessment and interventions / by Eleanor Feldman Barbera -- Empathy training : the different like me culture / by Alyse November -- Social wellness initiatives to reduce bullying among older adults / by Katherine Parker Cardinal -- Future directions : policy imperatives to address bullying among older adults / by Alyse November