Abstract
Elder abuse is an increasingly recognized but underreported problem in the United States. Although the term includes physical abuse, it can manifest as psychologic, verbal, emotional, or sexual abuse, caregiver neglect, financial exploitation, or abandonment. It can be reflected in elder bullying, humiliation, or intimidation and can present as unexplained or disproportionate trauma, poor hygiene, malnutrition, or dehydration. Other patients may simply appear to be withdrawn, anxious, stressed, or depressed. Some warning signs for the eye care provider might include repeatedly broken spectacles without adequate explanation, noncompliance with prior treatment instructions, or unexplained missed appointments. Eye care professionals should recognize the signs and symptoms of possible abuse in this elderly patient. Appropriate awareness of and referral to Adult Protective Services and coordination with the primary care service might be vision or lifesaving.
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Beaver, H.A. (2019). Elder Abuse. In: Beaver, H., Lee, A. (eds) Geriatric Ophthalmology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-04019-2_12
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-04019-2_12
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