NSG 4067 Week 5 Discussion: Elder Abuse

Week 5 Discussion: Elder Abuse

The elderly are a critical population deserving close attention, care, and instant response to their needs. However, due to widespread elder abuse, their physical, psychological, and emotional needs do not often get the deserved response. Forms of abuse vary depending on where the elderly live and the support they get. Advocacy and protection of the elderly from abuse are vital to reducing the severity of the problem.

Types of Elder Abuse and Challenges

Common in people aged 60 and older, elder abuse can be psychological abuse and neglect, among other forms. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defined psychological abuse as behaviors towards the elderly that inflict mental pain and distress (CDC, 2021). Harassing the elderly also causes mental harm besides being a leading cause of emotional abuse. Neglect is characterized by the failure to provide the elderly with basic needs, such as hygiene, safety, and medical care essentials (Myhre et al., 2020). It is challenging to abolish these types of abuse due to underestimation, underreporting, and inadequacy of resources. For instance, the CDC (2021) reported that elder abuse is underestimated since many cases are unreported since many older adults are afraid or unable to reach and inform the relevant authorities about the abuse they experience at homes, care facilities, and other settings. I consider psychological abuse and neglect the most crucial forms of abuse since they are overlooked and profoundly impacting as far as older adults’ health is concerned. Mental harm and neglect can lead to depression and increase the chances of premature death.

Advocacy and Elderly Protection

Protecting the elderly from abuse requires a multifaceted approach. As a health care provider, it is crucial to embrace one’s role as a mandated reporter and help authorities be aware of elderly abuse. Secondly, the elderly should be helped to identify abuse and where to report it (CDC, 2021). Thirdly, policymaking and assisting the elderly to get legal assistance when abused can be crucial in advocacy and protection efforts focusing on the elderly population.

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Overall, older adults are a vulnerable population to psychological abuse and neglect. The impacts are far-reaching and regrettable. Health care providers can protect this critical population in many ways, including increased awareness of abuse and helping the elderly to report. Legal assistance is also crucial, among other interventions.

NSG 4067 Week 5 Discussion: Elder Abuse References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Preventing elder abuse. https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/elderabuse/fastfact.html

Myhre, J., Saga, S., Malmedal, W., Ostaszkiewicz, J., & Nakrem, S. (2020). Elder abuse and neglect: An overlooked patient safety issue. A focus group study of nursing home leaders’ perceptions of elder abuse and neglect. BMC Health Services Research, 20(1), 1-14.

The discussion assignment provides a forum for discussing relevant topics for this week on the basis of the course competencies covered. For this assignment, make sure you post your initial response to the Discussion Area by the due date assigned and complete your participation for this assignment by Day 7. To support your work, use your course and text readings and also use resources from the South University Online Library.
As in all assignments, cite your sources in your work and provide references for the citations in APA format. Support your work, using your course lectures and textbook readings. Helpful APA guides and resources are available in the South University Online Library. Below are guides that are located in the library and can be accessed and downloaded via the South University Online Citation Resources: APA Style page. The American Psychological Association website also provides detailed guidance on formatting, citations, and references at APA Style.
â€¢ APA Citation Helper
â€¢ APA Citations Quick Sheet
â€¢ APA-Style Formatting Guidelines for a Written Essay
â€¢ Basic Essay Template
Begin reviewing and replying to peer postings/responses early in the week to enhance peer discussion. See the rubric for participation points. Participate in the discussion by asking a question, providing a statement of clarification, providing viewpoints with a rationale, challenging aspects of the discussion, or indicating relationships between two or more lines of reasoning in the discussion. Always use constructive language, even in criticism, to work toward the goal of positive progress.

TASK

Post your initial response to the topic below.

Elder Abuse

There are many types of elder abuse.

Choose two types of elder abuse and discuss challenges you perceive in abolishing them.
Justify why you consider them as the most crucial.
Discuss how you can advocate and protect the elderly from abuse.