ELDER ABUSE AND NEGLECT CASES REVIEWED BY APPELLATE COURTS

With increasing attention focused on abuse and neglect of the elderly in domestic and institutional settings, nearly every state has passed legislation to protect these vulnerable adults. While the legal system has become involved at the trial court level the appellate courts hav e not yet been very active. Only ten reported cases in the United Stat es during 1981-1993 were appealed to a higher court. This article docu ments these few cases and explores the reasons for their ultimate disp ositions.