title: Understanding the medical markers of elder abuse and neglect: physical examination findings.
abstract: A specific foundation of knowledge is important for evaluating potential abuse from physical findings in the older adult. The standard physical examination is a foundation for detecting many types of abuse. An understanding of traumatic injuries, including patterns of injury, is important for health care providers, and inclusion of elder abuse in the differential diagnosis of patient care is essential. One must possess the skills needed to piece the history, including functional capabilities, and physical findings together. Armed with this skill set, health care providers will develop the confidence needed to identify and intervene in cases of elder abuse.
authors.affiliation: Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, Department of Family Medicine, University of California, Irvine, 101 The City Drive, Orange, CA 92868, USA. Electronic address: lgibbs@uci.edu.
authors.forename: Lisa M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Gibbs
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis*; D032882:Comprehension; D003288:Contusions / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D004552:Elder Abuse / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers
keywords: Elder abuse; Elder neglect; Medical markers; Physical injury