Elder abuse has become a major problem in our country today. Statistics indicate a high rate of abuse towards the elderly population. Unfortunately, elderly people are mistreated every day in our country. They are either mistreated by their friends, their relatives, or at home by their caregivers. Additionally, older adults can and are mistreated in the facilities where they receive care. It is quite difficult for people to understand how elderly people are abused without knowing the cause, effects and solutions of the problem. The purpose of this article is to help understand the causes of elder abuse, the effects it will have, and solutions to elder abuse. This way we can completely understand and prevent this from happening. Elder abuse can include physical or psychological abuse by the caregiver. Older people are also financially exploited. Abuse can go as far as self-neglect, where the elder can no longer meet his or her personal needs. It is important to understand what elder abuse involves. This will help us identify the problem and prevent the person from being another statistic. This will also help prevent elder abuse in the future. It is inevitable that we and our family members will all age. To understand this, many decisions must be made. One of the most difficult, and perhaps most important, decisions involves where the senior will live and how their long-term care needs will be met. When the older person in our lives is no longer able to do so independently due to the incapacity that accompanies many older people. They will have no possibility of losing any part of their independence and will rely on family, friends and the most unfavorable nursing homes to take care of them. I...... middle of article...... 2011, from ElderAbuse Information.com: http://www.elder-abuse-information.com/abuse/abuse_neglect.htmMalodick, ML (March 1 2011). Licensed Social Worker. (T. Burroughs, interviewer) MD, HC (August 5, 2009). Jama patient page on elder abuse. Retrieved March 18, 2011, from the American Medical Association: http://jama.ama-assn.org/content/302/5/588.full.pdfMD, SM (April 20, 2009). Emedicine. Retrieved March 15, 2011 from Emedicine.com: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/805727-overviewNational Center on Elder Abuse. (2011, n.d.). Retrieved February 22, 2011 from www.ncea.gov: http://www.ncea.aoa.gov/ncearoot/Main_Site/Library/Statistics_Research/Abuse_StatisticsNursing home neglect abuse Attorneys.N (2011). Retrieved March 23, 2011 from www.nursinghomeabusenegligenceattorneys: http://www.nursing-home-abuse-negligence-attorneys.com/html/types.html