Elder abuse in domestic settings is a widespread problem, affecting hundreds of thousands of elderly people across the country. However, because it is still largely hidden under the shroud of family secrecy, elder abuse is grossly underreported. Some experts estimate that only 1 out of 14 domestic elder abuse incidents (excluding the incidents of self-neglect) come to the attention of authorities. If this estimate is accurate, then domestic elder abuse cases reported to state adult protective service or aging agencies represent only the tip of the iceberg.

In 1981, researchers estimated that 10 percent of the U.S. elderly population, or 2.5 million people, were victims of various forms of elder abuse. In 1996, it was estimated that there were between 820,000 and 1,860,000 abused elders in the country. Yet because it is most often not reported, a true nationwide picture of elder abuse cannot be accurately drawn.