Join a National Diaglogue on Elder Abuse

Dan Frith

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The Washingto Post has a disturbing (although not surprising) article in yesterday's paper. The article, entitled "A Hidden Crime," reports on how America cares for its elderly...and it is not a pretty picture! Decubitus ulcers, malnourishment, dehydration, repeated falls, medication errors causing death and disability, and more...

Elder abuse typically conjures visions of nightmarish nursing homes, but the term actually encompasses a far broader spectrum of trouble, including physical and psychological abuse, neglect and financial exploitation. Practitioners report that most elder abuse occurs at home at the hands of family and that the most frequent perpetrators are adult male relatives with mental health or substance abuse problems.

Read this story and add your comments to the discussion. We cannot just look the other way and pretend the problem doesn't exist!