A 76 year-old female is brought to your office by her caregiver for an annual physical examination. She reports ‘feeling very down’, not sleeping much, not eating much, not taking her medications properly, not asking for refills on time and having difficulty remembering things. She talks more openly when she is alone with you in the room and becomes reticent when her caregiver enters the room. In the physical examination, she has distinct bruises with pale central areas lined on either side by linear ecchymosis on both upper extremities. She also has some bruising around her eyes and ears. You asked the caregiver to leave the room briefly and asked the patient about the bruises. The patient replies that they happened three weeks ago. You asked the patient, ‘has anyone threatened you or harmed you?’ Patient replied, ‘It happened only once. I am praying for him. It will be alright’. What is the most appropriate next step in the management of this patient?
