Elder Abuse: The Nexus Between Public Health and Social Justice

The issue of elder mistreatment fits easily into a public health agenda. It involves population health and affects not only a growing population of elders but also their families, as well as the health of future generations. It also involves social justice, as the topic often involves individuals with vulnerabilities, including cognitive impairment, multiple jeopardizes, ageism, and sexism. This symposium involves an array of issues that dominate in this field: its history and development as a public health issue and the major findings of notable research and practice that undergirds intervention and prevention efforts (Teaster, Elder Mistreatment and the Public's Health), a discussion of the largest prevalence study conducted to date (Acierno, The National Elder Mistreatment Study), health communications efforts and their efficacy (Whittier, Social Marketing Efforts Related to Elder Maltreatment), and identification of abuse through bruising patterns (Sheridan, Bruising Patterns Indicating Elder Mistreatment). We conclude the symposium with future directions for public health researchers and practitioners as they confront the issue of elder mistreatment (Teaster).