Chapter 10- Elder Abuse and Neglect

1. An 80-year-old is seen in the emergency department for a fall. The client has bruises on the upper arms and appears depressed. The client is accompanied by a grandchild, who is unkempt, glassy-eyed, and whose breath smells of alcohol. Which of the following should be a priority with the nurse? A) Assess whether the older adult is safe in the home environment. B) Determine whether legal interventions are appropriate. C) Assess the client's degree of frailty and chronic health problems. D) Determine the mental capacity of the older adult.

Ans: A

3. A neighbor notices an 81-year-old getting water from someone's outside faucet. The neighbor notices that this person's ankles are very swollen and there is an open wound on her left leg. The older adult says, "I stopped taking my pills because the water department turned off my water and I can't use the bathroom. My daughter did not pay the water bill, and she never has time to take me to the doctor so my legs can be checked." The neighbor calls adult protective services. Which of the following interventions is the priority when the nurse visits for an evaluation and does not find any immediate danger? A) The competency of the older adult in making decisions needs to be determined. B) The daughter needs to be picked up by the police on a neglect charge. C) The older adult needs to be involuntarily committed to a long-term care facility. D) An involuntary legal intervention needs to be initiated immediately.

Ans: A

9. A wound care nurse is assessing a 76-year-old client. The client has intimated to the nurse that her son sometimes "flies off the handle and gets rough with me." Which response made by the nurse is the best response? A) "When you say 'gets rough,' what does that look like?" B) "What do you think usually provokes this to happens?" C) "I'm going to have to phone adult protective services right now." D) "Why do you think that there is that response with anger or frustration?"

Ans: A

14. A home health nurse visits a client who has a history of alcoholism and dementia. The client's words are incoherent, and the client's clothes are filthy. The client is unsteady and leaning to the right, and the room in the rooming house is in disarray. The only word that the nurse can clearly identify is "no." Which action by the nurse is most appropriate at this time? A) Ask the neighbors what has been happening. B) Call emergency services for transport to a hospital. C) Leave and return later. D) Search the room for empty bottles.

Ans: B

5. A 30-year-old grandchild lives with and provides care for the 75-year-old grandparent. The grandparent has congestive heart failure, hypothyroidism, and chronic pain from a compression fracture and osteoporosis. The grandchild supervises the older adult's medications. The home health nurse notes that the older adult has extra diuretic pills and that the pain medications for a month have been used and cannot be refilled for 2 more weeks. The older adult tells the nurse: "Those pain pills don't work, my back is always hurting." The nurse notes that the older adult's ankles are very swollen. Which of the following things should the nurse do first? A) Call adult protective services and ask for an immediate evaluation. B) Assess the grandchild's understanding of her grandmother's needs. C) Take the grandmother to the emergency department immediately. D) Tell the older adult that her grandchild is probably taking her pain medications.

Ans: B

7. A nurse who provides care in a clinic comes into contact with numerous older adults, many of whom have bruises of various sizes and stages on their body. What pattern of bruising is most suggestive of possible abuse? A) Significant bruising on the shin region of a client's leg B) Bruising on both ears and both sides of the neck C) Bruising on the back of a client's hands D) Bruising on both of a client's elbows

Ans: B

10. An older adult who appears to be between 85 and 95 has been brought to the emergency department by emergency medical services after being found wandering in the street. The older adult is filthy, confused, and exhibits numerous bruises to the face and neck as well as signs of malnutrition and dehydration. What problem should the nurses prioritize for assessment and intervention? A) Hygiene B) Malnutrition C) Dehydration D) Potential elder abuse

Ans: C

11. A nurse in a hospital setting assesses an older adult and is unsure if the assessment data warrant notification to the authorities for elder abuse. Which action is most appropriate for the nurse at this time? A) Determine if the person has dementia. B) Discuss findings with the family. C) Follow the hospital protocol for reporting. D) Question the visitors.

Ans: C

8. An 81-year-old has been living for the past 2 years in a long-term care facility. However, financial pressures have required that the resident move in with the oldest child and spouse. Which of the following statements if made by the child's spouse should signal a potential risk for elder abuse? A) "I sure hope that we'll qualify for some home care because this seems pretty overwhelming." B) "This won't be easy for anyone. I think I might even end up having to juggle my work schedule." C) "He's used to being waited on here, but at our place he's going to have to fend for himself." D) "I'm probably going to even have to get some friends or neighbors to help out from time to time."

Ans: C

13. A nurse assesses an 85-year-old client and finds bruises on the arms and shins and a skin tear on the right hand. Which action is the priority for further nursing assessment? A) Consider the family as a reliable source of information. B) Determine if the person is depressed. C) Follow the protocol for reporting elder abuse. D) Review the client's medications and medical diagnoses

Ans: D

2. Which of the following is true about cognitive impairment and abuse of older adults? A) Older adults who live alone are always willing to acknowledge their impairments. B) Cognitively impaired older adults are usually able to meet minimum standards of care. C) When the older adult denies cognitive impairment, the risk for abuse declines. D) Older adults become more vulnerable to abuse because of cognitive impairment.

Ans: D

4. Which of the following statements is true about the laws of mandatory abuse reporting? A) Government agencies, not individual nurses, are responsible for reporting abuse. B) Mandatory reporting laws require reporters to know whether abuse or neglect has occurred, rather than just suspecting it has occurred. C) The use of an abuse reporting protocol replaces individual responsibility for reporting. D) A registered nurse is mandated to report abuse or neglect if it is suspected.

Ans: D

6. A nurse who works with the older population is aware that elder abuse takes many forms. Which of the following examples most clearly constitutes elder abuse? A) A paid caregiver cleans and assists with shopping for an older adult who lives alone. B) An older adult assists with child care in exchange for room and board at her niece's house. C) A daughter manages her mother's finances after the older adult granted her power of attorney. D) A daughter changes her mother's incontinence brief only after the urine has soaked through all her clothing because she wants to save money

Ans: D