Elderly Abuse: Types, Identification, Prevention and Nursing Intervention

Abstract

Millions of older persons worldwide are impacted by the widespread and profoundly concerning problem of elder abuse, which can take many different forms, including financial, emotional, sexual, physical, and neglectful abandonment. Abuse deteriorates psychological and physical aspects of victims. Medical professionals may identify, prevent, and address elder abuse through evidence-based nursing interventions. The results support a comprehensive strategy that incorporates multidisciplinary initiatives to safeguard the elderly and improve their quality of life. This study attempts to give healthcare workers, carers, and legislators a deeper understanding of elder abuse and useful strategies to protect the wellbeing of older individuals through an extensive examination of recent literature and best practices. This thesis's main aim is to explore the multifaceted nature of elderly abuse, encompassing its types, methods of identification, prevention strategies, and nursing interventions.

A scoping review was used as a method to conduct this study. Data used in this review was obtained through databases CINAHL, PubMed and ResearchGate. All the articles were published between the years 2005 and 2024.

Six different themes were identified from the results. These were organized and labelled as follows: Personal attributes and ethical values, Patient advocacy and safety factors, Impact on professional life and workplace environment, Effect on family life and public scrutiny, Fear and other barriers and Impact on physical and emotional health. The findings highlight the prevailing culture of fear and reluctance when it comes to reporting in healthcare settings. The act of whistleblowing, which is meant to be a tool for safeguarding patient welfare, remains discouraged and stigmatized.

This thesis has an acceptable similarity percentage after the Turnitin programme evaluated its sources.