Emerging Themes from a Follow-up Study of Canadian Victims of Elder Abuse

A follow-up study took place within the context of a larger national random survey on elder abuse in Canada. Forty-two of the original eighty victims were interviewed and asked to describe their life experiences. Emerging themes are described. There is strong evidence of adaptive strengths of older victims in dealing with their maltreatment circumstances. The author therefore argues that the concept of hardiness is both applicable and useful.