Elder Abuse and Nursing ─ What Nurses Need to Know and Can Do About It

The only text specifically for nurses about elder abuse in the clinical setting

Nurses are required by law to report elder abuse even when it is suspected but not verified. This is the only current text written specifically for nurses that provides a detailed overview of different forms of elder abuse in a variety of clinical settings. In combination with unfolding case studies, the book presents essential facts about elder abuse needed by nurses in clinical settings and provides them with useful tools to advocate for their patients. It describes key criteria for nurses to use in recognizing, assessing, intervening in and reporting elder abuse, as well as the legal, ethical, cultural and interprofessional care considerations associated with this complex topic.

Of particular value is a series of detailed and unfolding case studies that illustrate the role of nurses caring for abused elders in a variety of care settings. A “What Nurses Need to Know” feature containing clinical pearls and key takeaway points is threaded throughout the text. The book examines relevant characteristics of potential victims of elder abuse and their perpetrators, along with influential cultural factors. In addition, a wealth of resources for nurses to use in caring and advocating for their patients include video clips, state-by-state legal information, cultural assessment and communication tools, and patient teaching and communication resources. The book concludes with a chapter on the Future of Elder Abuse, organized by the domains contained in the Elder Justice Roadmap --direct service, research, policy, and education--as they pertain to public health and health care, including nursing, with respect to what actions are anticipated and what actions are needed.

Key Features:

• Presents essential facts about different forms of elder abuse in varied clinical settings

• Describes key criteria for nurses to use in recognizing, assessing, intervening in, and reporting elder abuse

• Addresses legal, ethical, cultural, and interprofessional care considerations

• Contains unfolding case studies illustrating the roles of nurses in dealing with elder abuse

• Provides clinical assessment pearls, takeaway points, links to video clips, state-by-state laws and information, cultural assessment tools, and more