You are touching on a fundamental point. I think the loss of independence, so all the degenerative illnesses that may occur in the aging process, is a well-documented reality, not only in geriatrics, but in social gerontology as well. I think considering the eventual need for care for seniors is a fundamental issue.
At the same time, since I'm from a social background, I wouldn't want us to consider abuse only as a medical problem. There are biopsychosocial components and the psychosocial is really crucial when it comes to intervention because assistance more often comes through the psychosocial aspect than the medical one.