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Elder abuse and the community psychiatric team

Psychiatric Services for the Elderly, Fulbourn Hospital, Cambridge CB1 5EF

^* Correspondence

To date, there are few reports on the extent of elder abuse among patients referred to old age psychiatry services. This study examined suspected cases of abuse among new referrals to a community psychiatric team for the elderly, at a time when guidelines and procedures for the detection and management of elder abuse were about to be introduced. Of 74 cases assessed, seven (almost 10%) were probably being abused. Several types of abuse were described, with no single pattern, and the professional responses therefore needed to be flexible. The impact of introducing the guidelines will be assessed later.