INTRODUCTION

Mistreatment of older adults is not a new phenomenon; it has been a feature of society since antiquity. Among nomadic tribes, older adults who could no longer contribute to the welfare of the tribe were often abandoned when the tribe moved on. King Lear is an example of severe abuse during Shakespeare's era. In the agrarian society of the latter 1800s and early 1900s, when multiple generations lived together, there were many instances of abuse documented in court records and sermons of that time. Sometimes maintaining an elderly parent in the home had more to do with ensuring the transfer of an inheritance than borne out of love or a sense of responsibility.

The 1960s was the decade for the recognition of child abuse followed by spouse abuse in the 1970s. In the 1980s some preliminary studies and hearings confirmed the presence of elder abuse. From the initial evidence it appeared elder abuse was widespread and crossed all social, racial, and economic barriers. Various types of abuse such as physical, psychological, material, and violation of rights occurred. The most common type was neglect, with family members being the most common perpetrators. Most states then rushed to develop legislation to combat abuse, but fewer states provided the necessary services to deal adequately with the problem.

The mistreatment of older adults includes several types of abuse. Physical abuse includes direct physical assaults, from slapping to homicide. This also includes sexual assaults, which some authorities place in a separate category. Physical neglect is the failure to provide a dependent older adult with the necessities of life, such as food, clothing, medicine, a safe living environment, and assistive devices.