Examining the ethical challenges in managing elder abuse: a systematic review

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Bioethics
• Public Health

Background:

• Elder abuse is a growing global concern with complex ethical implications for healthcare professionals and caregivers.
• Existing research has not yet provided a comprehensive understanding of the ethical issues surrounding elder abuse.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and analyze the existing ethical challenges associated with elder abuse.
• To synthesize current knowledge on definitions, legislation, ethical principles, and reporting mechanisms for elder abuse.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was conducted in major databases (PubMed, EMBASE, SID) between January and February 2017.
• 116 articles were initially identified, and 15 were selected based on predefined inclusion/exclusion criteria and research questions.

Main Results:

• No universally accepted definition or comprehensive legislation for elder abuse was found.
• Ethical principles in elder abuse care are influenced by community-specific legal and ethical frameworks.
• Competency is a key factor in applying ethical principles to elder abuse cases.

Conclusions:

• The absence of a common definition and legislation hinders the protection of elderly rights.
• Cultural and religious diversity contributes to the lack of standardized approaches to elder abuse.
• Localizing clinical guidelines is essential for effective healthcare provider (especially nursing) response to elder abuse.