Elder Abuse
There is no national consensus on a definition of elder abuse and state definitions vary widely. The term is used generically to include physical and sexual abuse, financial exploitation, psychological or emotional abuse, neglect by others, abandonment,
and—sometimes—self-neglect. Elder abuse is committed by family members, friends, fiduciaries (including guardians and conservators), paid and volunteer caregivers, and others in a relationship
of trust to the victim.
In This Section: