Question

5)   Elder abuse has been a recurring issue and area of concern amongst the elderly.

5.1)   Define elder abuse and the possible different forms of elder abuse you may come across in your nursing career (in 50-70 words)

Minimum word required : 50Please enter atleast 50 words

5.2)   Identify the legal requirements and possible ethical issues in aged care practice in regards to elder abuse (in 40-60 words)

Minimum word required : 40Please enter atleast 40 words

5.3)   List 4 (four) possible signs of elder abuse.

6)   Multiple Diagnosis :

6.1)   Determine the meaning of Multiple Diagnosis (in 20-40 words)

Minimum word required : 20Please enter atleast 20 words

6.2)   Discuss the various problems from a nursing perspective that can arise whilst caring for a patient of Multiple Diagnosis (in 50-70 words).

Minimum word required : 50Please enter atleast 50 words

7)   Analyse possible non-pharmacological therapies used in the possible treatment of dementia patients (in 50-70 words).

Minimum word required : 50Please enter atleast 50 words

  

8)   Outline the normal ageing process and describe the following theories proposed to explain the ageing process (in 40-60 words each).

8.1)   Normal ageing process:

8.2)   Theories:

Biological theories

8.3)   Psychosocial theory

8.4)   Disengagement theory

8.5)   Social exchange theory

8.6)   Wear and tear theory

8.7)   Activity theory

Answer 1

5.1 Definition of elder abuse:-

Elder abuse is a single or repeated act, or lack of appropriate action, occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust, which causes harm or distress to an older person. This type of violence constitutes a violation of human rights and includes physical, sexual, psychological, and emotional abuse; financial and material abuse; abandonment; neglect; and serious loss of dignity and respect.Elder abuse can lead to physical injuries ranging from minor scratches and bruises to broken bones and disabling injuries and serious, sometimes long-lasting, psychological consequences, including depression and anxiety. For older people, the consequences of abuse can be especially serious and convalescence longer. Even relatively minor injuries can cause serious and permanent damage, or even death. A 13-year follow-up study found that victims of elder abuse are twice more likely to die prematurely than people who are not victims of elder abuse.

5.2 Legal Obligations:-

Social workers have an obligation to know the laws in their jurisdiction as they apply to their clients and it is the legal duty of the practitioner to report abuse if their jurisdiction has mandatory reporting laws (Bergeron and Gray 2003).In the United States, federal laws exist with respect to the funding of protective services and shelters in cases of child
abuse and domestic violence, while elder abuse is not covered by similar legislation. In 1980, the Senate and House Committees on Aging held combined hearings on elder abuse that resulted in the proposed Prevention, Identification and Treatment of Adult Abuse Bill in 1981.This bill, which was never enacted, was modeled on child abuse legislation and called for among other things, man-
datory reporting (Dubble 2006). The Elder Justice Act was introduced to the Senate on April 2, 2009 and the House on April 21, 2009. If passed, this act will amend the Social Security Act in order to ensure ‘‘adequate public–private infrastructure and to resolve to prevent, detect, treat, intervene in, and prosecute elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation’’ (S. 795, Elder Justice Act 2009). It does not, however, address specific legal responsibilities, such as
mandatory reporting which continues to be left to state level legislation.

Ethical Issues:-
Quandaries in elder abuse present challenges to social work practitioners who must perform a balancing act when ethical and legal obligations are in contrasting positions (Anetzberger et al. 1997). Self-determination, although extensively discussed in the literature, professional code of ethics, and legislation, is inadequately defined leaving practitioners in an ethical bind. Should an abused elder’s rights and liberties be revoked to protect the client’s safety and well-being? The double bind experienced by social workers and other health practitioners involves the professional’s decision to intervene against the wishes of the abused elder which may violate the client’s right to self-determination. Conversely, the decision to withhold treatment or intervention in cases where abuse has been substantiated, leaving the older adult in a situation where the abuse is likely to reoccur, may be in violation of the elder’s right to protection (Bergeron 1999). When cases of suspected abuse are closed, leaving vulnerable elders in risk of
harm, social workers must resolve their own personal struggle with the outcome.

5.3 possible signs elder abuse

• Psychological abuse: The older adult's caregiver or family members use intimidation, threats or verbal abuse.
• Sexual abuse: The older adult fears being touched.
• Neglect: The older adult's basic needs (bathing, eating, living in a safe environment) are going unmet, either because of self-neglect or caregiver neglect.
• Physical abuse: The older adult has unexplained bruises, cuts, rope burns or even fractures.

6.1 multiple diagnosis/ dual diagnosis

Dual diagnosis refers to one or more diagnosed. mental health problems occurring at the same time as problematic drug and alcohol use. A dual  diagnosis condition can include: a mental health problem or disorder leading to or associated with problematic alcohol and/or other drug use.

7.

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy - may be useful to assist with adjustment to the initial diagnosis, forward planning and in treating depression in early stage dementia. These interventions may be particularly useful at the time of initial diagnosis.
• Psychotherapy and psycho-educational interventions - may assist carers to cope with assisting the person with dementia and to maintain their own health and wellbeing.
• Behavioural Management Therapy - may be useful in targeting challenging (difficult to manage) behavioural patterns in persons with dementia. Such behaviours may include wandering, agitation and repetitive questioning.
• Environmental approaches/modification - encourage creative solutions to dementia symptoms, targeting the environment of the person with dementia. The ideal environment for a patient with dementia is one that is non-stressful, constant and familiar.
• Dementia support groups - can help people to develop useful, supportive networks and realise the full extent of potential support services if or when required. There are many Dementia Australia carer support groups available for assistance.
• Montessori activities -focuses on supporting the independence of people with memory loss through meaningful activities, roles and environmental cueing.
• Memory training and using external memory aids can assist a person in the early stages of dementia to maximise their cognitive functioning and independence.
• Alternative therapies -light massage and aromatherapy, music and dance therapy, animal assisted therapy, multi-sensory therapy.

8.1

Ageing is a natural process. Everyone must undergo this phase of life at his or her own time and pace. In the broader sense, ageing reflects all the changes taking place over the course of life. These changes start from birth—one grows, develops and attains maturity. To the young, ageing is exciting. Middle age is the time when people notice the age-related changes like greying of hair, wrinkled skin and a fair amount of physical decline. Even the healthiest, aesthetically fit cannot escape these changes. Slow and steady physical impairment and functional disability are noticed resulting in increased dependency in the period of old age. According to World Health Organization, ageing is a course of biological reality which starts at conception and ends with death. It has its own dynamics, much beyond human control. However, this process of ageing is also subject to the constructions by which each society makes sense of old age. In most of the developed countries, the age of 60 is considered equivalent to retirement age and it is said to be the beginning of old age.