PODIATRIC MEDICAL CONSIDERATIONS IN DEALING WITH ELDER ABUSE

The geriatric population is expanding at a rapid rate. With greater nu mbers of elderly patient visits to the pediatric medical office, the l ikelihood of difficult psychosocial problems increases. Elder abuse is potentially a serious health risk and the need for the pediatric phys ician to identify and report elder abuse is a professional and, in man y cases, a legal responsibility. The authors identify the signs and sy mptoms of elder abuse and methods to address this difficult and perple xing problem.