Older people identified by social services to be at risk of abuse have higher rates of hospitalisation.

Context Elder abuse is a major challenge in contemporary societies. Community based studies indicate a prevalence range between 2% and 18.4% in older people with mental capacity. This figure rises substantially in the older people suffering from dementia. This study by Dong and Simon identifies that older people with suspected or confirmed elder abuse are at a greater risk of hospitalisation, even when figures are adjusted for covariates. This risk remains significant when examining the subtypes of elder abuse reviewed in the study.