Emergency Department/Hospital-Based Elder Mistreatment Response Teams

Elder mistreatment (EM) is an intentional action or failure to act that causes or creates a risk of harm to an older adult at the hands of a caregiver or a person they trust [1]. It includes physical, sexual, or verbal abuse, as well as neglect and financial exploitation, with victims often experiencing multiple forms of abuse concurrently or over time [2, 3]. EM occurs commonly, with an annual prevalence of 5–15% among community-dwelling older adults [2–5] and greater than 20% among long-term care residents [6–10]. The health and social consequences of EM are serious, including increased depression, dementia, exacerbations of chronic illness, and nursing home placement. However, only 1 in 24 cases are identified and reported to the authorities [4].