Elder abuse: critical care nurse role in detection

With an increasing number of elders entering hospital critical care units, the nurse in this setting has a responsibility for detecting signs and symptoms of elder abuse. Elder abuse is manifest in several ways including inflicted physical harm as a result of traumatic injuries or neglect, psychologic threats or intimidation, and even financial abuse when the elder's resources have been misappropriated by the caregiver. An Assessment Guide for Elder Abuse is an excellent screening tool for critical care nurses in detecting this escalating problem.