Canadi EM - By Miriam Armanious - March 16, 2021
“Studies suggest that the prevalence of elder abuse in high-incoe countries sits at around 7.6-10%.1 As individuals age, there can be a decline in social connections and even primary care visits. ED visits can be one of the only points of contact outside their immediate living environment, making this a crucial setting for identification of elder abuse.2It’s a statistical certainty that anyone working in health care has encountered several victims of elder abuse, particularly in the ED. Yet, when is the last time you identified a case of elder abuse? How would you know to recognize it in the future? And what would you do about it? If you’re not happy with your answers to some of these questions, you’re not alone. Evidence suggests ED clinicians do a poor job of recognizing and reporting elder abuse.3
In this post, we present the Top 5 Things You Should Know About Elder Abuse. We hope it will give you the chance to be the one to break the pattern of abuse for the vulnerable patient you are certain to meet on one of your next shifts...”
- Elder abuse takes many forms.
- Elder abuse is associated with adverse health outcomes
- ED visits are an opportunity to detect and act upon elder abuse.
- Certain exam findings are consistent with elder abuse
- You may have a duty to report