Growth and Development Q 8
The nurse is providing an educational session to new employees, and the topic is abuse to the older client. The nurse tells the employees that which client is most characteristic of a victim of abuse
A. A 90-year-old woman with advanced Parkinson’s disease
B. A 68-year-old man with newly diagnosed cataracts
C. A 70-year-old woman with early diagnosed Lyme’s disease
D. A 74-year-old man with moderate hypertension
Correct Answer: A. A 90-year-old woman with advanced Parkinson’s disease
The typical abuse victim is a woman of advanced age with few social contacts and at least one physical or mental impairment that limits the ability to perform activities of daily living. In addition, the client usually lives alone or with the abuser and depends on the abuser for care.
Option B: An elderly with newly diagnosed cataracts has less chance of being a victim of elder abuse. In general, elder abuse is considered a direct action, inaction, or negligence toward an older adult that harms them or places them at risk of harm either by a person in a position of presumed trust or by an outside individual targeting the victim based on age or disability.
Option C: A 70-year-old woman with Lyme’s disease has less chance of being subjected to elder abuse. Older adults with dementia or other cognitive impairment are at the highest risk, with nearly five times the rate of elder abuse seen compared to older adults without dementia.
Option D: A man with moderate hypertension will have the least chance of being a victim of elder abuse since they are not considered to have very poor health and are not yet functionally impaired. A prevalent belief is that the increased reliance on a caregiver leads to a high caregiver burden, which may manifest as elder abuse.