Despite a national focus on abuse of the elderly, there is no consensus as to how such abuse should be properly defined. Many researchers refer to a range of problems experienced by the elderly as abuse, including lack of proper housing, untreated medical conditions, and lack of social services. The development of better definitions of elderly maltreatment has become a high priority for researchers, In particular, it has become critical to differentiate among various types of maltreatment. One project categories elderly abuse and neglect in terms of physical abuse, psychological abuse, material abuse, active neglect, and passive neglect. Despite methodological limitations, research studies indicate that most abused elderly persons tend to be female and over 75 years of age. Many studies show that victims experience increased vulnerability due to illness or impairment and that elderly victims tend to live with abuse perpetrators. Data sources on the extent of elderly abuse are noted. Risk factors associated with abuse of the elderly are examined, including characteristics of abuse victims, intraindividual dynamics, intergenerational transmission of violent behavior, dependency, external stress, and social isolation. Outcomes of and appropriate interventions to deal with elder abuse are discussed. 80 references