Social work and nursing professionals need to be aware that individual perceptions and definitions of violence can impose biases on clients-at-risk. Caregivers experience stress, isolation, and strain; professionals need to recognize stress signals and seek help for the potential abuser before these feelings are translated into violence. Nurses have an ethical obligation to report elder abuse. The nurse is optimally positioned to identify elder abuse; the data collected and resulting diagnosis will determine the appropriate planning and management of the case. The diagnosis can be made only after all assessments, including history, physical, and psychological examinations, have been made. The nurse's knowledge of social supports and community resources are fundamental to the intervention phase of the process. By being sensitive to the caregiver's dilemma, the diversity of social factors which precipitate violence and the different methods of reacting to stress and frustration, nurses can become change agents in the social phenomenon of elder abuse. 5 tables, 10 references.