CONCLUSION
Healthcare professionals have an ethical, moral, and legal responsibility to understand and address the complexities of older adult and dependent adult abuse. Community service agencies, care facilities, clinics, and other healthcare centers are ideal places to embed the frameworks presented here for assessing and identifying vulnerable adults who are at risk for such abuse.
Nurses and other professionals serve as advocates for all those in their care, including the most vulnerable. It is through education and interdisciplinary teamwork that mandated reporters can provide a compassionate and quick response to suspected abuse in order to protect the safety and well-being of the dependent adults within our communities and facilities.
RESOURCES
Adult Protective Services map (NAPSA)
Elder abuse and elder financial exploitation statutes
Elder Abuse Suspicion Index (EASI)
Elder Locator Helpline (to self-report abuse)
800-677-1116
How to find a Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program
National Adult Protective Services Association
National Center on Elder Abuse
Suspected dependent adult abuse report (sample form) (Iowa Department of Human Services)
REFERENCES
NOTE: Complete URLs for references retrieved from online sources are provided in the PDF of this course.
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