title: Elder abuse and neglect: when home is not safe.
abstract: The prevalence and seriousness of elder abuse and neglect require the collaboration of health care professionals with many other disciplines for adequate assessment and intervention. The home visit provides a unique opportunity for the visitor to evaluate risk factors. Interventions and reporting depend on available resources, expertise and local reporting laws. Possible reasons for low physician and victim self-reporting are reviewed. Domestic violence persists into late life and requires different approaches than dealing with caregiver burnout or self-neglect. Involvement of health professionals in educating others in the community about elder abuse and neglect may allow isolated at-risk elders to be identified.
authors.affiliation: Primary Care/Geriatrics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Abbey
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D004552:Elder Abuse / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019221:Mandatory Reporting; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012307:Risk Factors; D012648:Self Care; D014481:United States