• Elder abuse victims may be reluctant to report their circumstances because it is often their own children who are the abusers.
• Victims of elder abuse tend to be frail and in poor health, they may be physically unable to report abuse.
• Approximately one out of every 25 older Americans may be victims of some form of abuse.

• The exploitation and abuse of older persons is receiving increased attention as a prevalent and serious form of family violence. This form of abuse generally includes violence inflicted on an elder by a spouse or family member providing care. The Center for Women’s Policy Studies explains elder abuse takes on many forms. These include, but are not limited to:

• Physical battering by a family member or spouse
• Threats of physical assault, verbal assaults, and financial exploitation
• Misuse of prescription and over the counter drugs to tranquilize and sedate an elder
• Inappropriate involuntary constriction – tying an older person to a chair or bed
• Sexual abuse
• Unsanitary living conditions

• Much of the focus concerning elder abuse has been violence inflicted on parents by their children. Often referred to as "caregiver stress" this type of abuse if perpetuated by male and female caregivers.

Studies indicate women are more likely to neglect older persons, whereas men are more likely to inflict harm. Although abuse by younger family members is a significant problem, many critics argue this is not the complete picture. Research indicates that spousal abuse is actually more common among the elderly than abuse by a younger family member. One study suggests as many as 58% of all cases of family abuse among people over 65 is perpetrated by a spouse.

Elder Abuse Among Ethnic Groups