Preaching to the unconverted: Educating physicians about elder abuse

In contrast to the pivotal role physicians played in the movement to protect the rights of abused children, we have been conspicuously absent in the field of elder abuse. This paper argues that the apathy is rooted in causes generic to family violence (such as clinical and academic discomfort, time and reimbursement constraints, and perceived importance) as well as causes unique to elder abuse (such as ageism and lack of a scientific knowledge base). Specific strategies are offered to address these obstacles including (1) framing the problem medically, (2) developing a credible knowledge base visible to clinicians, (3) entering mainstream medical education, and (4) emphasizing elder abuse policy efforts that address the concerns of physicians. The concept of the ''geriatric syndrome'' provides a familiar and useful framework for physicians to systematically evaluate suspected elder abuse and neglect.