One of the reasons health care providers have difficulty identifying, reporting, and managing cases of elder abuse is because health care providers have difficulty isolating the symptoms of mistreatment of an elderly person from the psychosocial context in which the victims are observed. Another reason is because elder abuse coexists with other medical and health problems. Further, elder abuse is often not viewed as a crime; and typically, elderly victims and their abusers deny that any abuse has occurred. Also, elder abuse victims are difficult to find and reach; elder abuse can occur in institutionalized populations; health care professionals are not familiar with procedures for reporting elder abuse; health care providers find it difficult to receive feedback on abuse referrals; and many clinicians are reluctant to report abuse even when it clearly exists. If health care providers are to be helped in identifying, reporting, and managing cases of elder mistreatment, the definition of elder mistreatment must be broadened, and they must have a high index of suspicion. Further, they should screen for abuse, recognize institutional contributions to the problem, know the patients or clients and their environments, seek consultation, understand the role of adult protective services, and provide health education. Further, health care providers should be aware of how health care financing/management issues may affect the patients under their care. 16 references