The nurse is concerned that an older client who lives with her son is at risk for psychopathology abuse. What assessment findings are consistent with this theory?

Question

1. The son tends to yell at her if she does not fully assist him with her bathing.
2. The son does not allow her to go to any of her quilting group classes.
3. The son witnessed his mother endure frequent beatings from his father.
4. The son who she lives with drinks 10-12 beers every night of the week.

Answer 1

3. The son witnessed his mother endure frequent beatings from his father.

Explanation: 1. The situational theory of elder abuse believes that as the care burden increases, the caregiver's capacity to meet the needs of the older adult may be strained.
2. The isolation theory of elder abuse believes that mistreatment is prompted by a dwindling social network.
3. In the transgenerational theory of elder abuse, elder mistreatment is thought to be a part of a family violence continuum, which may begin with child abuse and end with elder mistreatment.
4. In the psychopathological theory of elder abuse, caregivers who have preexisting conditions may have impaired capacity to give appropriate care, such as a caregiver with alcohol dependency may not be able to exercise appropriate judgment in caregiving of an older adult, which can ultimately lead to abuse or neglect.