Recognition of elder abuse began in the United Kingdom in the 1970's. While all 50 States in the United States now have laws against elder abuse, research dates back only about 20 years. Elder abuse is difficult to define because: (1) some older persons are frail and weak and need more protection than younger adults; (2) problems in determining which behaviors are abusive; (3) determining the identity of the abuser; (4) problems in determining at what age a person becomes elderly; and (5) lack of Federal legislation. The most common type of elder abuse is neglect. Other types are physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, and economic maltreatment. Most elderly persons are abused by family members. Less frequently, older persons are abused by others responsible for their care, such as nursing home or residential staff. Often dependency plays a major role in elder abuse. Currently, no organization or entity maintains data on the incidence of non-fatal elder abuse on a State-by-State basis. Except for Florida, the States with the highest percentages of persons over 65 tend to be in the Midwest and Northeast. Though elderly persons are among the least likely persons to be murdered, elder homicide is more common on the West and East coasts, and in the South, than in the Midwest. Most fatal violence against elderly family members is perpetrated on females. Elder abuse is the most underreported form of family violence. Rates of abuse differ depending on whether reports are made by law enforcement, social service agencies, or the elders themselves. Adult protective service agencies in many States address the maltreatment of all mentally and physically impaired adults (over 18) without distinguishing between abuse of those under and over 65, thus their data may lack the specificity necessary to determine if elder abuse has occurred. Improved systems of data collection on elder abuse are desperately needed, particularly at State level data. 3 figures, 16 references