Abuse of older people, also known as elder abuse, is a single or repeated act, or lack of appropriate action, occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust, which causes harm or distress to an older person. Abuse of older people is a hidden but serious public health problem: an estimated 1 in 6 older people experience some form of abuse each year, leading to serious physical and mental health, financial, and social consequences.
Despite the severity of the issue, no interventions have been proven to prevent or reduce abuse of older people in high-quality experimental studies. Global experts have identified the development of effective interventions as one of five priorities during the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing to address abuse of older people - a unique opportunity to advance on this issue.
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