Abstract
Abuse presents a serious threat to older peoples' health and quality of life. International studies estimate the rate to be 3–5% of the population over the age of 65 years as victims of abuse. Nurses in home and community care are well placed to identify older people suffering from abuse. The article focuses on the Indicators of Abuse Screen [IOA] and the Vulnerability to Abuse Screening Scale [VASS] and how appropriate these instruments are in practice. The IOA and the VASS have strengths and weaknesses in their ability to help nurses to detect abuse. The literature reviewed suggested that standardized instruments lack the capability to detect all the facets of the situation in which abuse occurs; therefore, their applicability in practice is problematic. On the other hand, awareness of indicators or signs related to the care recipient or the caregiver could help nurses to detect the occurrence of abuse amongst older people in home and community care, concomitant with nurses' professional knowledge and judgment.