Use of a single page elder abuse assessment and management tool: a practical clinician's approach to identifying elder mistreatment.

Elder abuse is a growing, alarming public health issue. As health care professionals, our challenge is to balance our duty to protect the safety of the vulnerable elder with the elder's right to self-determination. Clinicians in busy practice settings across the continuum of care as well as community-based social workers, emergency medical system, police, and banking personnel are collaborative partners needing tools that focus on early recognition, assessment, intervention, and management of elder abuse. A simple one-page tool that provides principles of assessment and management, best practice guidelines and screening questions will hopefully serve to raise awareness of this important public health issue and maintain a high index of suspicion for elder abuse, neglect and financial exploitation.