Key signs and strategies for recognizing elder abuse

Alqadiri et al present answer to a question on how to recognize elder abuse (EA) in busy clinical practice. Presentations of EA are heterogeneous and easily missed, as older adults do not always voluntarily report abuse. Owing to risks of false-positive findings, American and Canadian recommendations do not call for universal screening, but they suggest physicians be alert for evidence of EA during any clinical interaction. Family physicians are well positioned to detect EA but may lack training and knowledge that would allow them to intervene in early stages of abuse.