Elder abuse Free Essay Example, 1500 words

Elder mistreatment is a broad term that encompasses elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation. The purpose of this article is to provide clinicians with essential information about the various forms of elder mistreatment and offer a roadmap for action aimed at protecting or removing the elderly from abusive circumstances. We will describe elder mistreatment policies, examining them in the light of the U. S. national elder abuse policies with a focus on important provisions of the Elder Justice Act. We will also review the various types of abuse, the identification of abuse, and the nurses role in addressing elder mistreatment. We will present an example of a case of physical abuse and conclude by discussing nurses advocacy role and issuing a call to action, challenging nurses to act now to protect the well being of elders. Elder Mistreatment Policies This section will provide a brief overview of the elder abuse policies in the Unites States. It will begin with a brief, historical overview of the policy and then describe the key provisions of the U. S. Elder Justice Act. Historical Overview of Elder Abuse/Mistreatment in the US Â…it is only in recent decades that elder mistreatment as a social policy issue has moved to the forefront of health care and social services in the United States. We will write a custom essay sample on Elder abuse or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/pageorder now Elders are the wise matriarchs and patriarchs of families and society. However with age and accompanying physical and cognitive decline, elders become increasingly vulnerable to mistreatment. Nevertheless, it is only in recent decades that elder mistreatment as a social policy issue has moved to the forefront of health care and social services in the United States. The passage of Medicare, Medicaid, and the Older Americans Act legislation in the 1960s is illustrative of a shift toward increased awareness of, and attention to, human welfare issues impacting the elderly. During the same decade, Public Welfare Amendments to the Social Security Act authorized funding to states for the establishment of protective services for those elderly with physical and/or mental challenges who were neglected, exploited, or unable to manage personal matters (U. S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, State Letter No. 925 as cited in Teaster, Wangmo, & Abetzb erger, 2010). In 1974, Title XX of the Social Security Act authorized the support of protective services to adults 18 years of age and older at all income levels who were suffering abuse, neglect, or exploitation. This legislation stimulated the creation of Adult Protective Services through Social Service Block Grants at the state level.