Is Impairment in Physical Function Associated with Increased Risk of Elder MistreatMent? Findings from a Community-Dwelling Chinese Population

This article by Dong and Simon provides us with unique insight into mistreatment of the elderly as both a human rights issue and a public health issue.Chinese culture and customs are not well-known to many people; however, in less than four decades, one-quarter of the world's elderly population will be Chinese.There is a strong bond within Chinese families that spans generations.This bond is being tested and, in many cases, disrupted with the rapid economic changes in China, the new mobility of rural populations, and the influence of Western culture on Chinese culture.Dong and Simon have completed the first study of the aging Chinese population to examine the association of elder mistreatment and physical function.The metrics and measures used in this study can also translate into other cultures around the global with the same challenges.Despite its limitations, this study provides a starting point for examining this important global public health issue.