[Violence against the elderly in the family context--a topic in research, practice and public information].

Elder abuse within the family context is an issue that is beginning to be taken up in the Federal Republic of Germany due to the reception of English and American research literature. Since relevant research in the United States relies on information available within the established system of mandatory reporting of incidences of elder abuse, research designs are not transposable. Development of applicable research designs, however, can be based on certain findings, such as the bias to be expected by selection of specific spheres of experience, due to the choice of experts from within a limited number of relevant professions. Difficult problems have to be overcome in defining which active interventions are to be termed as abuse and which failures to intervene may be termed as neglect. In addition, great importance must be attached to procedures that confirm reported findings. A position is taken according to which ethics of research in this field do not allow for the prerogative of systematic gathering of information. Research endeavours must go hand in hand with active prevention of the risks of abuse and neglect or be of practical help in situations where negative action may take place and where help is needed, e.g. in difficult nursing situations within families. Under such pre-conditions, research designs are judged to be realistic in which professionals, in direct touch with families at risk, co-operate with research institutions in offering active support and at the same time systematically gathering relevant research data.