There are many problems plaguing families today. These problems can affect anyone from a newborn to a 90-year-old great-grandmother. Some problems can cause physical pain and leave the victim bloodied and bruised, for example abuse, while others cause mental anguish and financial difficulties, such as teenage pregnancies. Many of these problems remain hidden, even with all the help usually available, because of embarrassment or fear of hurting a loved one. Although there are many solutions proposed, none have been effective enough to eliminate the problem. Abuse is a problem that approximately 1.57 million Americans over the age of 60 face each year. In 1991, only 227,000 reports were received nationwide, an increase from 140,000 in 1988 (McGrath, 1994). Elder abuse is a crime that many people think they would never commit. The fact is that anyone can be an offender. Elder abuse often occurs when a responsible, even loving, loved one becomes overwhelmed by financial and emotional burdens and loses control (Collins & Frantz, 1994). The physical aspect of abuse usually occurs when the caregiver has a problem themselves, such as alcohol or psychological difficulties. There are reports of children and their family members chaining, beating, starving, raping, hitting, slapping, and in various other ways physically abusing their elders (Larue, 1989). Physical violence is not the only type of violence that occurs. There is also psychological abuse. Many older people are left alone for hours or even days. Negligence ranges from failing to turn a bedridden person over to avoid sores to abandonment. Many housebound seniors are too ashamed or too afraid to come forward. “It's a very embarrassing session... in the middle of a paper... the others. Child Behavior and Development, 10, 39-48Larue, Gerald A. (July/August 1989) “Geroethics: A Humanist Question” Humanist, 5+Mcgee, E. (1982) Too Little, Too Late: Services for Children teenage parents. New York: Ford FoundationMcGrath, Mary (January 2, 1994) “Physical Abuse, Neglect Come of Age” The Record, A1+Scattergood, Sara Park (January 1990) “Curbing Teenage Pregnancy: A Novel Approach” USA Today (Magazine), 87 -88Teti, D. and Lamb, M. (1989) Socioeconomic and marital outcomes of adolescent marriage, adolescent childbirth, and their co-occurrence. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 51, 203-212Trussell, J. (1988) Teenage pregnancy in the United States. Family Planning Perspectives, 20, 262-273Zelnick, M. and Kim, Y. (1982) Sex education and its association with adolescent sexual activity, pregnancy, and contraceptive use. Family planning perspectives, 14, 117-126