After discussing population trends which raise serious concerns about future long-term care for older adults, the report presents a chart of 29 pioneering studies on elder abuse which include the study date and location, type of research, techniques used, and findings. While these studies reveal that elder abuse is often inflicted on older women by relatives who are in a caregiving role, they are insufficient to document the prevalence or identify the causes. Moreover, basic questions still exist over what constitutes elder abuse and whether it is a legal problem, a criminal act, or a symptom of society's lack of preparation for care of its elderly. Studies also show that existing treatment strategies such as removal of the elder from the abusive home are not fully satisfactory. Questions to guide future research conclude the article. 71 endnotes.