Detecting, Documenting and Reporting Incidents of Elder Abuse Research Paper by writingsensation

Detecting, Documenting and Reporting Incidents of Elder Abuse
A study of the detection, documentation and reporting incidents of elder abuse.
# 75109 | 1,875 words | 13 sources | MLA | 2006 | US
Published on Nov 28, 2006 in Aging (Gerontology) , Sociology (General) , Ethics (General)


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Description:

This paper provides a background of the problem of elder abuse followed by a review and discussion of the relevant literature. The study uses a retrospective review of adverse patient incident reports in selected Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers (VAMCs) and domiciles in the United States. The paper determines what controlling legislation is in place and the associated responsibilities for healthcare practitioners. It notes that the next step involves detecting and substantiating cases of elder abuse when they occur or are suspected of having occurred. The paper further discusses what should be done when abuse has taken place. A summary of the research is provided in the conclusion, where it is noted that virtually all sources suggest the rates of elder abuse are on the increase. However, the definitions of elder abuse have been sufficiently codified in recent years that such incidents can be identified and, when appropriate, reported, investigated and actions can be taken to prevent such abuse in the future.

From the Paper:

"Today, there are more elderly than ever before, and their numbers are expected to increase as a percentage of the population in the coming years (Litwin & Zoabi, 2004). Based on this increase in numbers of elderly citizens, it is also reasonable to assume that there will be a concomitant increase in the incidence of elder abuse as well. In fact, in recent years, elder abuse by family members has been identified as a growing problem in Western societies (Bergeron & Gray, 2003; Litwin & Zoabi, 2004); however, it is difficult or perhaps even impossible to know whether elder abuse is actually increasing or decreasing because there is a paucity of national prevalence studies (Litwin & Zoabi, 2004; Johnson, 1991; Ebersole & Hess, 1998). The data that is available, though, suggests that the incidence of elder abuse is on the increase, particularly among those aged 75 years and above (Pritchard, 1993). According to the National Elder Abuse Incidence Study, the most accurate national estimate is that a total of 449,924 elderly people, aged 60 years and over, were the victims of abuse and/or neglect in domestic settings alone in 1996 (p. 6). Furthermore, of that number, just 16 percent or so, or approximately 71,987 cases, were actually reported to elder protection agencies (Bergeron & Gray, 2003). This means that across the country, there were approximately 380,000 cases of elder abuse in the home that went unreported - which is not to say undetected - during that year. Moreover, the National Center on Elder Abuse estimated the number of elder abuse cases across the country in all settings to be from 820,000 to 1,860,000 (cited in Ebersole & Hess, 1998). In reality, though, it does not matter whether elder mistreatment is increasing or decreasing because the fact that some elder citizens continue to experience unnecessary suffering is adequate to warrant attention (Johnson, 1991)."

Cite this Research Paper:

APA Format

Detecting, Documenting and Reporting Incidents of Elder Abuse (2006, November 28) Retrieved December 07, 2023, from https://www.academon.com/research-paper/detecting-documenting-and-reporting-incidents-of-elder-abuse-75109/

MLA Format

"Detecting, Documenting and Reporting Incidents of Elder Abuse" 28 November 2006. Web. 07 December. 2023. <https://www.academon.com/research-paper/detecting-documenting-and-reporting-incidents-of-elder-abuse-75109/>

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