Elder abuse can be physical, psychological, emotional, financial, sexual, or result from negligence for failing to provide necessary care and treatment.  And the number of potential victims of elder abuse is growing.  The “Baby Boomers” generation often has been credited for the significant growth in the elderly population over the last decade.  In the United States, the 2010 Census recorded the highest number and largest proportion of people age 65 and older since the Census began– 40.3 million, or 13% of the total U.S. population.  The National Center for Elder Abuse (“NCEA”) estimates that, by 2050, people age 65 and older will comprise 20% of the total U.S. population.  According to the Centers for Disease Control, up to 5.3 million Americans currently have Alzheimer’s disease; by 2050, that number is expected to more than double.  Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States and is the fifth leading cause among persons age 65 and older.  Elderly who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia are at greater risk for elder abuse than those without dementia.  NCEA notes that close to 50% of people with dementia experience some kind of abuse, according to one 2009 study.  NCEA also notes that 47% of participants with dementia had been mistreated by their caregivers, according to a study published in 2010.