The first section examines the theories of elder abuse and mediation; discusses mediation as a minimal form of intervention to empower older people to resolve their conflicts and thereby help prevent elder abuse; and describes the research needed to test the theory that at early stages of relational conflict, mediation can contribute to the prevention of elder abuse. The second section examines elder care in the United States, particularly the long-term care ombudsmen (LTCO) who use mediation as well as advocacy and other skills in their work. It also describes the results of participant observation research in large and small institutions and in community-based LTCO services and volunteer services in the United States. The final section describes the British Elder Mediation Project, elder abuse and mediation work in Norway, and initiatives from a European perspective. Index and approximately 400 references