Pickens, SabrinaDyer, Carmel B.2023-08-012023-08-012015This is the published version of an article that is available at: https://doi.org/10.2174/1874220301603010188. Recommended citation: Pickens, S., & Dyer, C. B. (2016). Elder abuse in America. Open Medicine Journal, 3(1), 188–193. This item has been deposited in accordance with publisher copyright and licensing terms and with the author’s permission.https://hdl.handle.net/11274/15303https://doi.org/10.2174/1874220301603010188Article originally published in Open Medicine Journal, 3(1), 188–193. English. Published online 2016. https://doi.org/10.2174/1874220301603010188Elder abuse is a serious social and public health issue with estimates of approximately five and a half million annual reports in the U.S. Identifying and treating abused elders is difficult due to unstandardized protocols and identification guidelines as well as a lack of public awareness to the problem. An interdisciplinary approach in collaboration with Adult Protective Services investigation is paramount to the assessment and care for mistreated elders. Educating healthcare professionals, other professions, and the lay public through social media, local news, and community education can increase awareness to this often overlooked problem.en-USAbandonmentAbuseElder abuseNeglectOlder adultsArticle© Pickens and DyerCC BY 4.0