Elder abuse, manipulation towards suicide, and homicide: Borders can be vague

Elder abuse can have many forms; it is generally under-recognized and underreported. The borders between elder abuse, resulting in a person’s death, manipulation towards suicide, and murder can be indistinct. It can include involvement in heavy binge drinking, denial of help, and instigation of self-harming behavior. A case report is discussed here. A concluding point is that the state should care about weaker members of society, including those suffering of alcoholrelated dementia, because they can be abused by their relatives and expropriated by criminals. Authorities should investigate the cases, when alcoholics, disabled and other people were deprived of their apartments or houses as a result of criminal acts or deceit, having thus become homeless, and to help these people to obtain decent accommodation. © 2015 Chevron Publishing Corporation. All rights reserved.