Elder abuse: critical care nurse role in detection

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Critical Care Nursing
• Abuse Detection

Background:

• The number of older adults in critical care is rising.
• Nurses in critical care settings have a duty to detect elder abuse.
• Elder abuse encompasses physical harm, neglect, psychological abuse, and financial exploitation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the critical care nurse's role in identifying elder abuse.
• To introduce an effective screening tool for elder abuse detection.

Main Methods:

• The study focuses on the responsibilities of critical care nurses.
• It discusses various forms of elder abuse.
• An Assessment Guide for Elder Abuse is presented as a screening tool.

Main Results:

• Elder abuse presents in multiple forms, including physical harm, neglect, psychological threats, and financial misappropriation.
• An Assessment Guide for Elder Abuse is identified as a valuable screening tool.

Conclusions:

• Critical care nurses are essential in identifying elder abuse.
• Utilizing screening tools like the Assessment Guide for Elder Abuse is crucial for addressing this problem.