虐待老人的发生率和流行率数据尚未可知,这主要是因为定义不同且缺乏国家层面的研究。美国 1991 年的估算数据显示,每年有 100 万至 200 万 60 岁以上的老人被他们的看护者伤害、盘剥或以其他方式虐待。[6]National Center On Elder Abuse. Fact sheet: elder abuse prevalence and incidence. 2005. http://www.ncea.aoa.gov (last accessed 24 March 2016).http://www.ncea.aoa.gov/Resources/Publication/docs/FinalStatistics050331.pdf在英国,据估计虐待老人的发生率为 2% 至 10%。[7]Lachs MS, Pillemer K. Elder abuse. Lancet. 2004;364:1192-1263.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15464188?tool=bestpractice.com这些数据可能有些低估,因为每 5 例老人被忽视的案例中仅有 1 例被记录在案,而每 25 例经济剥削的案例中也仅有 1 例被记录在案。[6]National Center On Elder Abuse. Fact sheet: elder abuse prevalence and incidence. 2005. http://www.ncea.aoa.gov (last accessed 24 March 2016).http://www.ncea.aoa.gov/Resources/Publication/docs/FinalStatistics050331.pdf另外,预计虐待老人案例数目将会随着人们寿命延长而增多。需要着重注意的是虐待老人并不是某种特定看护环境中所特有的现象,而是常见于社区环境和长期护理场所。[8]Lindbloom EJ, Brandt J, Hough LD, et al. Elder mistreatment in the nursing home: a systematic review. J Am Med Direc Assoc. 2007;8:610-616.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17998119?tool=bestpractice.com虽然报道不同,但人们的普遍共识是,老人受虐待在男性和女性中一样常见。[9]Lachs MS, Williams C, O'Brien S, et al. Risk factors for reported elder abuse and neglect: a nine-year observational cohort study. Gerontologist. 1997;37:469-474.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9279035?tool=bestpractice.com[10]Paveza GJ, Cohen D, Eisdorfer C, et al. Severe family violence and Alzheimer's disease: prevalence and risk factors. Gerontologist. 1992;32:493-497.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1427252?tool=bestpractice.com[11]Pillemer K, Finkelhor D. The prevalence of elder abuse: a random sample survey. Gerontologist. 1988;29:51-57.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3342992?tool=bestpractice.com
经济虐待可能是漏报最多的虐待老人的形式。据报道,它是加拿大最常见的虐待老人的形式。[12]Podnieks E. National survey on abuse of the elderly in Canada. J Elder Abuse Negl. 1993;4:5-58.