Elder abuse detection and intervention: Challenges for professionals and strategies for engagement from a Canadian specialist service

Elder abuse (EA) is of increasing relevance in the context of an aging society and this has implications for detection and intervention for several types of health care providers, including forensic nurses. Knowledge related to EA is important as victims are likely to interact with providers, either due to existing health problems or the consequences of abuse. This paper provides a brief overview of EA, followed by an outline of current detection and intervention efforts used by health care providers in community and hospital settings. In addition, knowledge about help-seeking and barriers to disclosure are discussed to inform health care provider interactions with older adults where EA is suspected or disclosed. To illustrate challenges faced by health care providers in this area, two cases of EA involving case management by a forensic nurse in a specialist service in Canada are presented.