***Comment this***Despite the medical profession’s focus d

***Comment this***Despite the medical profession’s focus during the last few decades on child abuse and intimate partner violence, there has been relatively little attention to elder abuse. Elder abuse is associated with physical and mental health problems, including physical injuries, depression, poor control of chronic diseases, and functional disability. Results of elder abuse can be devastating. During a 5-year period, nearly 114 elderly patients accounted for 628 emergency department visits seeking treatment for physical abuse. Mortality rates between 1992 and 2001 show that of 74 postmortem cases, 52 deaths were attributed to a homicidal act, and in 22 deaths neglect was suspected. Primary care may be a first response to abuse. In 2001, adults aged 65 years and older averaged 13.7 physician visits in the year. This level of interaction puts primary care physicians, who account for most visits, in a unique position to identify abuse and intervene.