Recent legal trends affecting your older patients

Although elder law encompasses many areas, this article examines 2 recent trends, caregiver issues and elder abuse. These trends address the ever-increasing overlap between healthcare services and the legal rights of older persons. Both the legal and healthcare systems must often intervene to assist aging patients. This article outlines resources and strategies that physicians or office staff can use to help patients access appropriate legal services and aging network services. The ElderCare Locator, sponsored by the Administration on Aging, is one of several such excellent resources (www.eldercare.gov).