Elder Abuse

Abstract

Elder abuse as a general term encompasses physical and emotional abuse, as well as neglect and financial exploitation. An estimate that approximately 10% of older people in the United States have experienced abuse is widely published. However, there is general agreement among both researchers and practitioners that elder abuse and neglect is underreported. Risk factors for victimization include gender (with more older women victimized than older men), physical frailty, and mental impairment. Most states have civil and criminal statutes that address elder abuse, but the laws vary by state because of differing definitions. Most forms of elder abuse may also be actionable as a violation of general criminal, family, or probate state statutes.