Thursday, July 24, 2008

Elder Mistreatment

The disturbing stories surface in the news with too much frequency. The victims are elderly, and the abuse they face takes various forms. The insidious offenses, collectively known as elder mistreatment, are a pervasive, though still often overlooked, public health problem.

At its June Annual Meeting, the American Medical Association adopted policies to address this serious state of affairs. AMA House of Delegates endorsed policies encouraging physicians and other medical professionals to become more proactive in recognizing and treating seniors who may be victims.

The term elder mistreatment covers physical and sexual abuse, emotional abuse and financial exploitation. The unifying feature across this spectrum is that its victims are unable to protect themselves. It occurs in both community and institutional settings and cuts across geographic, class, gender and racial lines. And often, the abuse gains public attention only after it is too late.

Full Article and Source:
Taking action toward prevention of elder mistreatment

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