Introduction

Different types of maltreatment against older people, perpetrated by those within their close social network, stand in contrast to well-known theories of intergenerational solidarity (Bengtson and Roberts 1991; Bengtson, Rosenthal and Burton 1996; Lee, Parish and Willis 1994; Lowenstein 1999; Lowenstein and Katz 2005; Silverstein 2006; Silverstein and Bengtson 1997; Silverstein, Parrott and Bengtson 1995) and attachment theory (Bowlby 1973), both of which confirm the natural need of older people to form long-lasting social bonds meant to provide a sense of security, safety, and comfort throughout life (McCarthy and Davies 2003; Merz, Schuengel and Schulze 2007). Such links can help to conceptualize the sociological explanation of relationships between the lack of intergenerational solidarity and risk of different types of maltreatment in elders.

Mutual relationships between parents and their children are the most powerful and durable of bonds between human beings (Walker 2002). Increasing the prevalence of different types of maltreatment by family members can perceived as a consequence of the main changes in families in the last century. As Walker (2002) mentioned “responsibilities to help relatives are accepted, sometimes at high cost to the helper. Families feel an obligation towards assume responsibility for the care of older relatives – this is based on a mixture of affection, reciprocity and duty which results in ambivalence in the caring relationships: relatives want to help but they may resent having to do so.”