During the fall of 1985, the task force held biweekly work sessions to review all existing Maryland law and procedures involved in reporting, preventing, and responding to elderly abuse and neglect. A preliminary report identified major issues, and subsequent statewide public hearings examined these issues. The task force concludes that abuse and neglect of the elderly are increasing largely due to the large number of lay care-givers untrained and unqualified to deal with dependent elderly. This situation has arisen because of the absence of subsidized health care for the elderly. The recommendations for improved and more comprehensive services focus on public awareness, prevention, intervention strategies, interagency coordination and information sharing, administrative responses, and legal responses. Appendixes contain task force enabling legislation, existing Maryland law pertinent to elderly abuse and neglect, and articles on elderly abuse.