Discharge planners play a pivotal role in reducing the risk of abuse to elderly victims once they leave the protected hospital environment. The timing of the discharge, the environment into which patients are released, and the arrangements for follow-up can have a critical impact on patients' future safety and security. Discharge planning functions usually include an assessment of the patient; this involves determining who he/she is, where he/she came from, who is available for support, and how he/she coped in the past. Discharge planning also involves an assessment of how disease or illness has affected and will continue to affect the patient's life; the development of a plan to provide necessary interventions and counseling in order to help the patient cope with necessary changes; an assessment of alternative placement options; and referrals to post-acute community resources. Discharge planning should involve the patient, his/her support system, the attending medical personnel, and post-acute resource staff. Discharge planning addresses the broad psychosocial needs of a patient and his/her family while the patient is hospitalized and afterward. This chapter discusses discharge planning in a changing health care environment, discharge planning in elder abuse cases, documentation, and obstacles to the resolution of elderly abuse cases. 15 references