Legal and Ethical Concerns Elder Abuse and Neglect Flashcards
Difference between competency and decision making
Competency: a legal term that refers to the ability to fulfill one’s role and handle one’s affairs in a responsible manner
Decision making capacity: a measure of a person’s ability to make an informed and logical decision about a particular aspect of his or her health care
Advance directive
Definition: legally binding documents that allow COMPETENT people to document what MEDICAL CARE they would or would not want to receive if they were not capable to making decisions and/or communicating their wishes. (Ex. MOST - Medical Orders for Scope of Treatment, Living Will - like MOST but with more details, multiple “if” scenarios)
If they don’t have one, it will happen by the provincial ranking (spouse first, then ranking of children)
Difference between power of attorney and enduring power of attorney
power of attorney: deals with only money
enduring power of attorney: money & health care
Risk Factors for Elder Abuse and Neglect
Victim
- Cognitive impairment/dementia
- Problem behaviours
- Disability (physical, communicative)
- Physical dependency
- Financial dependency
- Shared living arrangements
- Isolation or lack of social supports
Perpetrator
- Mental illness
- Alcoholism
- Hostility
- Financial dependency on the victim
Abuse and neglect prevalence and causes
4-47% of OA experience worldwide
- financial exploitation and emotional abuse are the most common abuse forms
- sexual abuse is the least common
- highest prevalence in rural communities in China (36.2%) experiencing caregiver neglect and physical mistreatment
- most commonly in socially isolated and physically or cognitively impaired OA women who live alone or with an abuser
What question best prepares a nurse to begin a dialogue with a client about advance directives?
Who do you talk to about your health care decisions?
