Examined demographic profiles of older wards and their guardians and adjudication process, as experienced by older persons placed in legal guardianship. Found that family members' petitions for guardianship were seldom challenged by older person and goal of most guardianship cases was to preserve older individual's estate. Suggests that state…

Evaluated physicians' responses to Alabama state elder abuse reporting statutes in Alabama Protective Services Act of 1976. Survey responses from over 100 Alabama physicians suggest that they have reservations about their ability to diagnose abuse, operation of the law, and their willingness to report abuse. (Author/NB)