"Until very recently, elder abuse was a social problem hidden from public view and mostly regarded as a private matter. Evidence is accumulating, however, to indicate that elder abuse, which includes the pervasive issue of neglect, is an important public health and societal problem that manifests itself in both developing and devel- oped countries. From a health and social perspective, unless the primary health care and social services sectors are well equipped to identify and deal with the problem, elder abuse will continue to be underdiagnosed and overlooked."
The elder population and primary health care professionals in 8 countries perceived that a screening instrument is critical in preventing and identifying elder abuse, suggesting that the tool should vary according to cultural and geographical contexts.
