CHAPTER 8: Ethics and the Nursing Care of Elders

Question 1

Aging in America: How are people living?

Answer 1

Americans living longer as medicine advances

Question 2

Aging in America:

Quality of life assessments

Answer 2

highly variable based on observer

Question 3

Aging in America:

Staying in the home: What ethical themes are at play?

Answer 3

Staying in the home: Autonomy versus beneficence

Question 4

Aging in America:

Ageism

Answer 4

Ageism: stereotyping and discrimination against older adults based on age

Question 5

Aging in America:

Long-term care
What replaces autonomy? Especially in what circumstances?

Answer 5

Dignity may replace autonomy, especially in dementia

Question 6

Aging in America:

Long-term Care:
What kind of care is justified?

Answer 6

Justified paternalism/soft paternalism

Question 7

Aging in America:

Long-term Care:

Justified paternalism/soft paternalism- What is it proportional to?

Answer 7

Inversely proportional to autonomy present

Question 8

Aging in America:

Long-term Care:

Justified paternalism/soft paternalism- What is the goal?

Answer 8

Goal of preventing nonvoluntary conduct

Question 9

Decisional Capacity:

Answer 9

Decisional Capacity: Ability to make reasonable conclusions and resolutions informally

Question 10

Decisional Capacity:

What is it related to?

Answer 10

Often related to competence (the legal definition tied to formal situations involving informed consent)

Question 11

Decisional Capacity:

Caution:

Answer 11

Caution: False assumptions based on ageism- not every elderly person is cognitively impaired

Question 12

Dementia:

What does it compare to?

Answer 12

Compares to loss of personhood

Question 13

Dementia:

What does it contribute to?

Answer 13

Contributes to extreme vulnerability

Question 14

Dementia: What are depersonalizing tendencies to avoid?

Answer 14

Treachery

Disempowerment:

Infantilization:

Intimidation:

Labeling:

Outpacing:

Objectification:

Question 15

Dementia:

Treachery:

Answer 15

using deception/manipulation

Question 16

Dementia:

Disempowerment:

Answer 16

not allowing use of abilities

Question 17

Dementia:
Infantilization:

Answer 17

patronizing

Question 18

Dementia:

Intimidation:

Answer 18

inducing fear

Question 19

Dementia:

Labeling:

Answer 19

using dementia as the basis of interactions/explanation

Question 20

Dementia:

Outpacing:

Answer 20

acting/speaking faster than others are able to

Question 21

Dementia:

Objectification:

Answer 21

treating others as subjects/ignoring sentience

Question 22

Elder Abuse:

What standards apply?

Answer 22

Duty to Disclose standard applies (mandatory reporting to Adult Protective Services)

Question 23

Elder Abuse:

Potential signs of elder abuse, neglect, or self-neglect:

Answer 23

Physical:

Sexual:

Emotional:

Neglect:

Financial:

Question 24

Potential signs of elder abuse, neglect, or self-neglect: Physical:

Answer 24

incongruent reactions to human touch, bruises, burns, overmedication, marks from restraints, being uncomfortable around staff

Question 25

Potential signs of elder abuse, neglect, or self-neglect:

Sexual:

Answer 25

incongruent reactions to human touch, genital trauma, STI’s

Question 26

Potential signs of elder abuse, neglect, or self-neglect:

Emotional:

Answer 26

withdrawal from activities, anxiety, depression, unusual behavior or unease

Question 27

Potential signs of elder abuse, neglect, or self-neglect:

Neglect:

Answer 27

pressure ulcers, unattended medical needs, poor hygiene, incontinence-related skin disorders, weight loss

Question 28

Potential signs of elder abuse, neglect, or self-neglect:

Financial:

Answer 28

uncharacteristic purchases, failure to pay bills, keep appointments