OT Pratice - Elder Abuse

Question 1

Which type of abuse involves inflicting mental distress on an elderly person?

A) Physical abuse
B) Emotional abuse
C) Financial exploitation
D) Neglect

Answer 1

B) Emotional abuse

Question 2

What should an OT do if elder abuse is suspected during a home health evaluation?

A) Document the findings and report them to the authorities
B) Confront the caregiver about the suspected abuse
C) Ask the client to confirm the abuse before reporting
D) Ignore the signs if there is no physical evidence

Answer 2

A) Document the findings and report them to the authorities

Question 3

Which clinical sign might suggest emotional abuse in an elderly patient?

A) Unexplained bruising on the arms
B) Depression and withdrawal from social activities
C) Frequent visits to the emergency room
D) Complaints about not receiving medication

Answer 3

B) Depression and withdrawal from social activities

Question 4

In a clinical setting, what is the OT’s role in preventing elder abuse?

A) Provide resources for legal action
B) Educate family members on stress management
C) Report concerns to Adult Protective Services
D) Advocate for the client’s placement in a safer environment

Answer 4

C) Report concerns to Adult Protective Services

Question 5

Which form of elder abuse often leads to malnutrition and poor hygiene in older adults?

A) Physical abuse
B) Emotional abuse
C) Neglect
D) Financial exploitation

Answer 5

C) Neglect

Question 6

What is a common emotional effect of elder abuse?

A) Increased energy levels
B) Depression and withdrawal from social interactions
C) Enhanced self-confidence
D) Improved mental health

Answer 6

B) Depression and withdrawal from social interactions

Question 7

Which action should an OT take if they witness signs of elder financial exploitation?

A) Contact the client’s family immediately
B) Report it following mandatory reporting guidelines
C) Offer legal advice to the client
D) Provide the client with financial counseling

Answer 7

B) Report it following mandatory reporting guidelines

Question 8

What legal obligation do occupational therapists have in states where they are mandated reporters?

A) To make a report if they have substantive evidence
B) To wait for family members to report
C) To only document abuse without reporting
D) To seek permission from the client before reporting

Answer 8

A) To make a report if they have substantive evidence

Question 9

Which behavior may indicate that an elderly patient is experiencing physical abuse?

A) Consistent stories about their injuries
B) Unexplained bruises, burns, or scars in various stages of healing
C) Increased participation in therapy
D) Over-communicating with their caregiver

Answer 9

B) Unexplained bruises, burns, or scars in various stages of healing

Question 10

Which of the following is a possible indicator of neglect in an elderly patient?

A) Malnutrition and poor personal hygiene
B) Increased social interaction
C) Improved physical strength
D) Frequent family visits

Answer 10

A) Malnutrition and poor personal hygiene

Question 11

How should an OT handle a situation where a client expresses fear of their caregiver?

A) Document the concern and notify the appropriate authorities
B) Ignore the comment if there is no physical evidence of harm
C) Ask the client to resolve the issue with their caregiver
D) Encourage the client to speak with a family member

Answer 11

A) Document the concern and notify the appropriate authorities

Question 12

Which situation would most likely result in an OT suspecting elder abuse?

A) A caregiver appears overly concerned for the client’s well-being
B) An elderly client exhibits multiple bruises at different stages of healing
C) The elderly client is happy and well-groomed
D) The client frequently attends all therapy sessions

Answer 12

B) An elderly client exhibits multiple bruises at different stages of healing

Question 13

What is the OT’s role in educating clients and families about preventing elder abuse?

A) Educating caregivers on stress management techniques
B) Providing legal advice to caregivers
C) Recommending fewer therapy sessions
D) Reporting any signs of abuse to law enforcement

Answer 13

A) Educating caregivers on stress management techniques

Question 14

Which of the following is a common barrier to identifying elder abuse in clinical practice?

A) Lack of evidence to prove abuse
B) The client’s fear of retribution from the caregiver
C) The client’s refusal to participate in therapy
D) The family’s frequent visits to the facility

Answer 14

B) The client’s fear of retribution from the caregiver

Question 15

In a suspected case of elder abuse, what action should be prioritized by the OT?

A) Ensuring the client’s safety and reporting the abuse
B) Confronting the caregiver
C) Informing the client to keep quiet about the issue
D) Attempting to resolve the issue without involving authorities

Answer 15

A) Ensuring the client’s safety and reporting the abuse

Question 16

What is one of the most common reasons that elder abuse goes unreported by healthcare professionals?

A) Fear of legal consequences
B) Lack of knowledge about reporting procedures
C) The client is always monitored by their family
D) Elders often do not interact with professionals

Answer 16

B) Lack of knowledge about reporting procedures

Question 17

What should an OT look for when assessing for potential elder abuse during an ADL evaluation?

A) Discrepancies between the client’s explanation of their injuries and the caregiver’s account
B) A well-maintained home environment
C) Detailed explanations of injuries from the client
D) Lack of financial concern for the elderly patient

Answer 17

A) Discrepancies between the client’s explanation of their injuries and the caregiver’s account

Question 18

Which type of elder abuse involves taking control of an elderly person’s finances for personal gain?

A) Physical abuse
B) Emotional abuse
C) Financial exploitation
D) Neglect

Answer 18

C) Financial exploitation

Question 19

How can occupational therapists play a role in preventing elder abuse in the community?

A) By educating both the client and caregiver on stress management and safety
B) By confronting abusive caregivers directly
C) By reducing therapy sessions to ease caregiver burden
D) By focusing only on physical rehabilitation and ignoring other signs

Answer 19

A) By educating both the client and caregiver on stress management and safety

Question 20

Which of the following should an OT document when elder abuse is suspected?

A) Detailed observations of physical injuries and client behavior
B) The OT’s assumptions without evidence
C) The client’s family history
D) The caregiver’s explanation of the injury

Answer 20

A) Detailed observations of physical injuries and client behavior

Question 21

In cases of elder neglect, what are some common signs that an OT might observe?

A) Dehydration and poor personal hygiene
B) Increased social interaction with family
C) Elevated energy levels
D) Consistent weight gain

Answer 21

A) Dehydration and poor personal hygiene

Question 22

What is the OT’s role when they suspect a caregiver is emotionally abusing a client?

A) Document and report the abuse to the appropriate authorities
B) Provide emotional counseling to the caregiver
C) Avoid confrontation and simply continue therapy
D) Wait for the client to confirm the abuse

Answer 22

A) Document and report the abuse to the appropriate authorities

Question 23

Which of the following behaviors from a caregiver could indicate potential financial exploitation?

A) The caregiver avoids discussing the client’s finances
B) The caregiver frequently takes the client to medical appointments
C) The caregiver insists on managing the client’s money and accounts
D) The caregiver encourages the client to maintain independence

Answer 23

C) The caregiver insists on managing the client’s money and accounts

Question 24

What should an OT do if an elderly client reports feeling unsafe at home?

A) Document the client’s statement and report it to Adult Protective Services
B) Ignore the comment if there is no visible evidence
C) Confront the caregiver about the client’s statement
D) Advise the client to contact law enforcement

Answer 24

A) Document the client’s statement and report it to Adult Protective Services

Question 25

Why might an elderly client be reluctant to report abuse?

A) Fear of retribution or further harm from the caregiver
B) Lack of concern for their own well-being
C) Strong feelings of independence
D) Improved relationship with thier caregiver

Answer 25

A) Fear of retribution or further harm from the caregiver