INTRODUCTION Domestic violence and elder abuse are frightening problems and they are very common. Unfortunately, even though domestic violence and elder abuse are serious social issues that have terrible consequences, they seldom seem to attract widespread attention or be in the public consciousness unless there is a case that is particularly terrible or gruesome. And although they are actually very common, no one knows exactly how many cases of domestic violence and elder abuse occur every year. One of the unfortunate aspects of domestic violence and elder abuse is that the victims very often do not report their abusers, so the cycle of violence and injury continues. Certified nursing assistants (CNAs) are very often the health care professionals who have the most constant contact with the most vulnerable members of our society, and these are the people who are most at risk for being victims of elder abuse or domestic violence. And because CNAs see their clients and patients so often and for so many hours, they are in a unique position to be able to detect the signs and evidence of domestic violence and elder abuse. As a medical professional and a patient advocate, it is one of your duties to know how to recognize, help prevent, and report domestic violence and elder abuse. OBJECTIVES   When the student has finished this module, he/she will be able to:

1. Identify three types of elder abuse.
2. Identify three signs of elder abuse.
3. Identify two reasons why elder abuse may go unreported.
4. Identify three signs of domestic violence.