Elder mistreatment

Elder mistreatment is a common clinical problem that affects at least 4% of the population over age 65. It occurs in all socioeconomic and racial groups. If our eyes are open and we know the signs, we will find it in our families, in our communities, in our nursing homes, and in our hospitals. All health care professionals should be familiar with the problem of elder mistreatment, adept at recognizing risk factors for mistreatment, and alert to signs of actual mistreatment. If we can recognize at-risk situations, it may be possible to prevent much of the neglect and self-neglect that constitute the bulk of the APS caseload. At the very least, we certainly must be able to treat any cases of mistreatment that cannot or have not been prevented. Part of the ability to provide care for victims of mistreatment depends on clinical expertise, and part depends on active advocacy for the victims. This means advocating for the patient not only with the caregivers and within the hospital system, but also at the community, state, and federal levels. Without this political advocacy, there will be no resources to back up our clinical exercise. Nurses have already done much to develop the field of elder mistreatment and improve the care of victims of abuse, but there is still a lot of work to do.