Medical and laboratory indicators of elder abuse and neglect

Veronica M LoFaso; Tony Rosen

doi:10.1016/j.cger.2014.08.003

Medical and laboratory indicators of elder abuse and neglect

Clin Geriatr Med. 2014 Nov;30(4):713-28. doi: 10.1016/j.cger.2014.08.003. Epub 2014 Oct 24.

Authors

Veronica M LoFaso¹, Tony Rosen²

Affiliations

¹ New York Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medical College, Box 39, 525 East 68th Street, New York, NY 10065, USA. Electronic address: vel2001@med.cornell.edu.
² New York Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medical College, Box 39, 525 East 68th Street, New York, NY 10065, USA.

PMID: 25439637
DOI: 10.1016/j.cger.2014.08.003

Abstract

Elder abuse and neglect are highly prevalent but woefully underdetected and underreported. The presentation is rarely clear and requires the piecing together of clues that create a mosaic of the full picture. More research needed to better characterize findings that, when identified, can contribute to certainty in cases of suspected abuse. Medical and laboratory data can be helpful in the successful determination of abuse and neglect.

Keywords: Dehydration; Elder abuse; Elder neglect; Malnutrition.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Blood Chemical Analysis
Clinical Laboratory Techniques / methods*
Dehydration / diagnosis*
Dehydration / epidemiology
Elder Abuse / diagnosis*
Elder Abuse / statistics & numerical data
Female
Geriatric Assessment / methods*
Health Status Indicators
Humans
Male
Malnutrition / diagnosis*
Malnutrition / epidemiology
Needs Assessment
Physical Examination / methods*
Prescription Drug Misuse / statistics & numerical data
Prevalence
Risk Assessment
Vulnerable Populations / statistics & numerical data