Although it is not often thought of, elderly abuse is a frequently occurring phenomenon. Especially when an older patient dies, maltreatment is low on the list of possible causes of death. There are, however, signs that may point in the direction of abuse. These can either be on the patient's body, in the surroundings, or within the story as to how the patient died. Attention should be paid to these often subtle signs, and autopsies need to be performed more frequently to establish the exact cause of death.