Guidelines

This document deals with physicians' responses to elder abuse and neglect. Additionally, it includes information on self-neglect among the elderly which is also a major concern for professionals caring for elderly patients. The purpose of these guidelines is to: • Sensitize clinicians to the fact that elder abuse and neglect occur commonly and that the problem is likely to be encountered in their medical practices. • Present what is known about the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, and history of elder mistreatment. • Describe barriers to the proper identification and management of elder mistreatment. • Outline an approach that physicians can use to facilitate recognition of elder abuse and neglect in a variety of clinical settings. • Identify strategies for the management and prevention of elder mistreatment. • Discuss relevant ethical and medicolegal issues surrounding the detection and reporting of elder abuse and neglect.

American Medical Association