Elder Abuse
You are a home care nurse. You have a client who has had a stroke and is living with her husband. She has left-sided weakness and uses a quad cane for ambulation. They live modestly and own their own home. The husband has been caring for the client but one week you notice she has bruising on her body and severe skin tears. You haven’t received a report on this from the LPN who last visited the client.
1. What would you assess and why?
2. How would you handle not receiving a report from the LPN and why?
3. What questions would you have for the patient? the husband?
The following week you find her filling a 7 day/4 times a day pill organizer with piles of medications spread all over the kitchen table. Upon admission a few weeks prior, the husband had stated he supervises her medications.
4. What would your reaction be and why?
5. How would you assess the client during this visit and why?
6. What questions would you have for the client and husband?
7. What would you suspect? and why?
8. What would you want to assess regarding the husband and why?
9. What are the legal responsibilities of the nurse if reporting possible elderly abuse?