Ethical dilemmas of reporting suspected elder abuse

Elder abuse reporting laws exist in every state to protect elderly people being abused physically or emotionally, suffering from neglect, or experiencing financial exploitation. Support groups for caregivers of elderly individuals may help prevent elder abuse by reducing caregiver stress and linking caregivers to community services. Using case illustrations, the authors raise the dilemmas that group facilitators face when deciding whether to report a group member suspected of abusing his or her elder care recipient. The ethical concerns of reporting or withholding a report are discussed, and recommendations to assist facilitators in this complex decision process are presented.