title: Prevention and early identification of elder abuse.
abstract: Elder abuse is a public health problem growing more pervasive despite being grossly underreported and underdetected. Annually, many vulnerable older adults suffer various forms of abuse threatening their overall health, quality of life, and survival. To better protect our aging population, we must overcome obstacles such as ageism, lack of geriatric health professional training, and low screening practices in clinical settings. Addressing these challenges is not sufficient for eliminating the abuse of older adults, but it is necessary for diminishing the potential for abuse and the associated negative health outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Division of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Harris Health System, Texas Elder Abuse and Mistreatment Institute (TEAM), UT Health, 3601 North MacGregor Way, Houston, TX 77004, USA; Consortium on Aging, Texas Elder Abuse and Mistreatment Institute (TEAM), UT Health, 3601 North MacGregor Way, Houston, TX 77004, USA. Electronic address: Jason.Burnett@uth.tmc.edu.
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Burnett
authors.affiliation: Division of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Harris Health System, Texas Elder Abuse and Mistreatment Institute (TEAM), UT Health, 3601 North MacGregor Way, Houston, TX 77004, USA; Consortium on Aging, Texas Elder Abuse and Mistreatment Institute (TEAM), UT Health, 3601 North MacGregor Way, Houston, TX 77004, USA; Graduate School of Social Work, The University of Houston, 110 HA Social Work Building, Houston, TX 77204, USA.
authors.forename: W Andrew
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Achenbaum
authors.affiliation: Division of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Harris Health System, Texas Elder Abuse and Mistreatment Institute (TEAM), UT Health, 3601 North MacGregor Way, Houston, TX 77004, USA; Consortium on Aging, Texas Elder Abuse and Mistreatment Institute (TEAM), UT Health, 3601 North MacGregor Way, Houston, TX 77004, USA.
authors.forename: Kathleen Pace
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Murphy
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004552:Elder Abuse / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019221:Mandatory Reporting; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods*; D015995:Prevalence; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000458:organization & administration*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States; D035862:Vulnerable Populations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: Adult protective services; Ageism; Elder abuse; Mistreatment; Screening