A physician's perspective: elder abuse and neglect over 25 years

Area of Science:

• Geriatrics
• Medical Ethics
• Public Health

Background:

• Elder abuse and neglect present a significant public health challenge with profound consequences for victims' well-being.
• Physician involvement in identifying and reporting elder abuse has historically been limited compared to other professions.
• Despite a unique position to observe and intervene, physicians' contributions to combating elder abuse remain suboptimal.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the historical involvement of physicians in addressing elder abuse and neglect over a 25-year period.
• To identify barriers and propose remedies for enhancing physician participation in elder abuse interventions.
• To advocate for systemic changes that support physicians in fulfilling their role in elder protection.

Main Methods:

• Review of 25 years of data and literature on physician involvement in elder abuse cases.
• Comparative analysis of physician reporting rates versus other professional groups.
• Identification of potential systemic and educational interventions.

Main Results:

• Physician contribution to addressing elder abuse and neglect has been notably limited over the past 25 years.
• Physicians are less likely to report elder abuse compared to other healthcare and social service professionals.
• Existing systems and lack of specific recognition hinder physician intervention.

Conclusions:

• Physician engagement in elder abuse and neglect cases requires significant improvement.
• Potential solutions include recognizing elder abuse as a billable syndrome, enhancing medical education on the topic, and increasing research funding.
• Stronger advocacy from physician organizations is crucial to empower and support physicians in this critical area.