2. Elder Abuse
Abuse can affect anyone of any age but one of the groups that are most affected but not
always thought of as abused is the elderly. We as nurses must learn the signs of abuse and be
willing to report it.
Missouri's Statute (2011) on mandated reporting states that any person “…with [the]
responsibility for the care of a vulnerable person… [and] has reasonable cause to suspect that
such a person has been subjected to abuse or neglect or observes such a person being subjected
to conditions or circumstances that would reasonably result in abuse or neglect, he or she shall
immediately report or cause a report to be made to the department…”. What this boils down to is
that if you are in a position as a caregiver of a person you suspect is being abused you required to
report it. There is a long list of professionals that are mandated to report any signs of abuse. In
Missouri’s Revised statute (2011) is a small list of some of these individuals “…any physician,
physician assistant, dentist, chiropractor, optometrist, podiatrist, intern, resident, nurse, nurse
practitioner, medical examiner, social worker, licensed professional counselor, certified
substance abuse counselor, psychologist, physical therapist, pharmacist, other health practitioner,
minister, Christian Science practitioner, facility administrator, nurse's aide or orderly in a
residential facility, day program or specialized service operated, funded or licensed by the
department or in a mental health facility or mental health program”.
Missouri’s statute (2011) when a health care professional fails to make a report they
become “…guilty of a class A misdemeanor and shall be subject to a fine up to one thousand
dollars. Penalties collected for violations of this section shall be transferred to the state school
moneys fund and distributed to the public schools of this state”. While any person who files a
3. Elder Abuse
false abuse or neglect report on someone knowing that it is false will also be guilty of a class A
misdemeanor and will be as liable as someone who did not report any abuse.
Abuse can be broken down into certain categories: physical, emotional, sexual and
financial. Another form is neglect. Physical abuse is “…non-accidental use of force against an
elderly person that results in physical pain, injury, or impairment. Such abuse includes not only
physical assaults such as hitting or shoving but the inappropriate use of drugs, restraints, or
confinement” (Benedictis, 2012). Emotional abuse would include intimidation through yelling,
threats, humiliation and habitual blaming. A nonverbal form is ignoring and isolation. Financial
abuse would be “…unauthorized use of an elderly person’s funds or property” (Benedictis,
2012). This would be misuse an elder’s personal checks, credit cards, or accounts, cash, income
checks, or household goods. Forging the elder’s signature or participating in identity theft is a
form of financial abuse (Benedictis, 2012).
There are certain signs a person should look for that could indicate of elderly abuse. One
of the first signals of elder abuse are that they may show symptoms of dementia such as rocking,
sucking, or mumbling, mental deterioration, or frailty. Something that you should see as
suspicious is a caregiver’s refusal to allow you to see the elder alone. If you witness the caregiver
threatens, belittles, or exhibits controlling behavior such as answering questions directed at the
elder (Benedictis, 2012). The most obvious signs are unexplained marks of injury such as
bruises, welts, or scars, broken bones, sprains, or dislocations. Another form of abuse is signs of
restraints either physical such as rope marks on wrists or chemical such as drug overdose. With
medications another form of abuse is withholding medications and you could see this with a
prescription that has more remaining than it should. If the elder has broken eyeglasses or frames
4. Elder Abuse
can be a sign of abuse. Their cloths are torn, stained, or bloody (Benedictis, 2012). These are all
signs of abuse.
Another form of abuse is neglect. Some signs and symptoms of neglect by caregivers are
unusual weight loss, malnutrition, and dehydration. Neglect can be untreated physical issues
such as bed sores. The elder can be dirty or clothing is soiled or unsuitable for the climate. The
elderly patient may not have any heat, electric, or running water. The last form of abuse is
leaving an elder in a public place and not coming back for them (Benedictis, 2012).
As a nurse the first thing I would do in the case of elder abuse is try to get the patient
alone and away from the one I suspected of abuse to question them about it. If they denied any
abuse was occurring or didn’t want you to tell anyone you can give them information to contact
help when the victim is ready. I would be getting the social worker involved in the situation at
the very beginning. Lastly but most importantly we need to hotline the elder and caregiver to the
appropriate authorities.
Our role as nurses is to be mandated reporter in the cases of elder abuse. In this paper
Missouri's Statute was discussed. Abuse was defined and described. We as nurses must learn the
signs of abuse and be willing to report it.
5. Elder Abuse
References
Benedictis, Ph.D., Tina de, Robinson, Lawrence, and Segal Ph.D., Jeanne. (2012). Elder Abuse
and Neglect. Retrieved from
http://helpguide.org/mental/elder_abuse_physical_emotional_sexual_neglect.htm
Missouri General Assembly. (2011). Chapter 565: Offenses Against the Person. Missouri
Revised Statutes. Section 565.218. Retrieved from
http://www.moga.mo.gov/statutes/C500-599/5650000218.HTM
![Elder Abuse
Abuse can affect anyone of any age but one of the groups that are most affected but not
always thought of as abused is the elderly. We as nurses must learn the signs of abuse and be
willing to report it.
Missouri's Statute (2011) on mandated reporting states that any person “…with [the]
responsibility for the care of a vulnerable person… [and] has reasonable cause to suspect that
such a person has been subjected to abuse or neglect or observes such a person being subjected
to conditions or circumstances that would reasonably result in abuse or neglect, he or she shall
immediately report or cause a report to be made to the department…”. What this boils down to is
that if you are in a position as a caregiver of a person you suspect is being abused you required to
report it. There is a long list of professionals that are mandated to report any signs of abuse. In
Missouri’s Revised statute (2011) is a small list of some of these individuals “…any physician,
physician assistant, dentist, chiropractor, optometrist, podiatrist, intern, resident, nurse, nurse
practitioner, medical examiner, social worker, licensed professional counselor, certified
substance abuse counselor, psychologist, physical therapist, pharmacist, other health practitioner,
minister, Christian Science practitioner, facility administrator, nurse's aide or orderly in a
residential facility, day program or specialized service operated, funded or licensed by the
department or in a mental health facility or mental health program”.
Missouri’s statute (2011) when a health care professional fails to make a report they
become “…guilty of a class A misdemeanor and shall be subject to a fine up to one thousand
dollars. Penalties collected for violations of this section shall be transferred to the state school
moneys fund and distributed to the public schools of this state”. While any person who files a](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)