Elder Abuse (BLS)

Course overview

As people are living longer, the elderly population is rapidly growing. Elderly people make up the fastest growing segment of the U.S population. The current elderly population is more than 13% of the U.S. population, and is expected to reach 20% of the population by 2050. The mistreatment of the elderly often goes unnoticed; many elderly people are homebound and may not have much interaction with society. Recent estimates suggest between 1 and 2 million Americans, 65 and older, have been injured, exploited, or mistreated by someone they are dependent on for care. This lesson will educate the learner about the management of the potential elder abuse patient.