Vera Institute of Justice

Overview

A significant amount of research has been conducted on ways to reduce abuse against women and children, but very little research has been done on the domestic abuse of elderly persons. The lack of a good understanding of elder abuse and its consequences is worrisome. Virtually all state agencies charged with addressing the problem of elder abuse reported increases in their caseloads over the past decade. Elder abuse victims are in an especially difficult situation because they often are dependent on the abuser and have little possibility of moving or otherwise ending the abusive relationship.