Final answer:
Elder abuse is most often perpetrated by caregivers, reflecting the challenges faced by family caregivers and healthcare professionals like nurses and pharmacists in providing continuous elder care in the United States, contrasted with the family-centered care prevalent in Asian societies.
Step-by-step explanation:
When it comes to elder care, particularly when elderly people suffer abuse, it is most often perpetrated by caregivers. The dynamics of family caregiving in the United States are such that, despite a willingness to care for elderly family members, many caregivers face constraints due to employment outside the home and the financial burdens of professional healthcare. This often results in gaps in care. Additionally, healthcare professionals, including nurses and pharmacists, play a vital role in supporting the care of the elderly. Pharmacists, in particular, contribute by dispensing medication and advising both physicians and patients on drug use, thanks to their extensive knowledge of chemistry and biology.
In contrast to some Western approaches where the elderly are encouraged to be independent, in many Asian societies, the family has a central role in caring for the elderly, indicating cultural differences in the perception of elder care responsibilities.