Elder Abuse occurs when a person is a position of authority or trust harms a senior citizen. It could be a neighbor, a family friend, caregiver, and all too often a family member. Elder Abuse can be real or threatened use of physical force, emotional or psychological abuse, or the intentional mismanagement of their finances. Victims of Elder Abuse often do not speak out for many reasons: they fell ashamed of their mistreatment by a family member, they are embarrassed of the situation they find themselves in, they are unaware of their rights, or sometimes they simply have no one else in their lives to look after them. Elder Abuse is a chronic problem in our society that transcends all cultural, economic and social boundaries. It robs people of their dignity and quality of life. In many cases it results in devastating financial loss, physical or psychological harm of varying degrees, and in some cases even violent death to the victim. If you know a senior who is being victimized, don’t hesitate to contact local law enforcement officials.