Elders in the United States should not be subjected to abusive situations like the one Mildred Mortenson suffered. However, these types of situations happen more often than they should and, unfortunately, not enough is being done to prevent it. Elder abuse should be recognized as a growing and very serious problem in our society. As older adults become more physically frail and begin to depend on others to meet their basic needs, they tend to become vulnerable to intentional abuse and neglect within their own home and in assisted living facilities such as nursing homes . Unfortunately, it is not possible to know exactly how many elderly people are abused in the country. Due to under-reporting, variations in the definition of elder abuse, and the lack of a uniform reporting system, it is difficult to determine the severity of this problem, causing the problem to remain hidden. However, researchers reported that “According to the best available estimates, between 1 and 2 million Americans aged 65 and older have been injured, exploited, or otherwise mistreated by someone on whom they depended for care or protection” (Elder Maltreatment : Abuse, Abandonment and Exploitation in an Aging America). The troubling elder abuse situation the nation is currently facing can be prevented if the government, associations and assisted living facilities provide effective interventions. According to the National Center on Elder Abuse, more than half a million cases of elder abuse are reported each year. It is estimated that only 1 in 14 cases of elder abuse reaches the authorities and for every case of elder abuse reported, approximately 5 remain unknown. Also note that white older females are abused at a higher rate than males and that the ... center of paper ......ce of Elder Abuse and Neglect. Network. November 14, 2003. Elizondo, Amy “Personal Communication” November 4, 2013. Dossey, James P. The Problem of Elder Abuse and Current Solutions in Texas. Rep. Dossey & Jones PLLC, June 1, 2012. Web. November 18, 2013. Kohn, Robert, and Wendy Verhoek-Oftedahl. “Elder Care and Abuse.” Medicine and Health Rhode Island 94.2 (2011): 47-49. Academic research completed. Network. November 18, 2013. Lachs MS, Williams CS, O'Brien S, Pillemer KA, Charlson ME. “Mortality due to elder abuse”. Journal of the American Medical Association (1998) 428–32. Network. November 17, 2013.Muehlbauer, M and PA Crane. “Elder Abuse and Neglect.” Journal of Psychosocial Nursing & Mental Health Services 44.11 (2006): 43-48. CINAHL with full text. Network. November 14, 2013. National Elder Abuse Center. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, n.d. Web. 14 November. 2013.