While the evidence to support screening elderly and vulnerable adults is limited, state and local laws vary about the obligation and logistics of reporting elderly abuse. A main conclusion of the USPSTF is that more evidence-based research needs to be done for the population of elderly and vulnerable adults.
Bottom line
Intimate partner violence is common, affecting a quarter of all adults at some point in their life. The mental and physical effects of intimate partner violence can be severe and long-lasting. Screening for intimate partner violence is effective, and effective interventions can be carried out to help women who are victims of intimate partner violence. The USPSTF recommends routine screening of women of reproductive age for intimate partner violence. The data on screening for abuse in the elderly and vulnerable adults is insufficient for the USPSTF to make a recommendation for or against screening.
Reference
• Screening for Intimate Partner Violence and Abuse of Elderly and Vulnerable Adults: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement. (Ann. Intern. Med. 2013:158;478-86).
Ms. Skolnik attends Drexel University, Philadelphia, and is a research assistant at the Children’s Hospital of Pennsylvania. Dr. Clouse is an associate director of the family medicine residency program at Abington (Pa.) Memorial Hospital.
*Correction 1/23/14: A previous version of this article misstated the name of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. This version has been updated.