Demographic ageing in the world population is accompanied by increased negative social trends towards elderly persons, age discrimination, ill-treatment and violence. According to the UN and WHO up to 6% of older people in the world suffer from abuse. In Europe - 29 million (19.4 per cent) are subject to psychological, 6 million (3.8 percent) - finance, 4 million (2.7 percent) - physical, and 1 million (0.7 percent) - to sexual violence. 8500 die annually because of homicides, 2500 (30%) caused by family members. In Russia, there has also been an increase in crimes against the elderly related to fraud with their property, physical violence by children because of claims on the property of their parents. Sometimes the elderly themselves commit crimes against children, who has subjected them to physical, financial, psychological violence during long periods. We observe a growing number of property transactions committed under the influence of fraud, deceit, difficult life circumstances. There is an increasing number of elderly, deprived of legal capacity. Because of this, a growing number of geriatric psychiatric examination in criminal and civil cases reaches a quarter (23.5 percent) of all examinations. It is noted that the risk of abuse increases in the cases of mental disorders and dementia, physical, financial, emotional dependence, cohabitation, social isolation. To prevent abuse of the elderly a complex of legislative measures is required aimed at protection of their rights, monitoring of cases of abuse, legal, psychological, educational, medical education and assistance programs, enhancing the spiritual culture of the people, because the world's denominations do not accept disrespect against elderly individuals.