The Pathology of Elder Abuse and Neglect

Maltreatment of older adults is a worldwide social issue that is only beginning to emerge as a forensic entity that requires medicolegal adjustments to recognise, and investigate fatal. Like other segments of the population that are dependent on others, such as children, become vulnerable to abuse and neglect. Older adults can become reliant on others for care and subsequently vulnerable to maltreatment because of the high prevalence of age-related changes, diseases, and associated complex polypharmacy that can result in physical and cognitive decline. The abuse of older people is slowly emerging as a public health and criminal justice concern. In cases of datal elder maltreatment, the forensic pathologist, in partnership with the death investigation team, may be tasked with the detecting and the investigation of these deaths. This is challenging because the criteria of detecting elder maltreatment have not been established, the social isolation that is more frequent in this cohort and the unique pathophysiology due to age-related changes and diseases.