A nurse is caring for a family in which the elderly mother has been a victim of abuse and neglect by her son, 48 years of age. Which of the following would be most important for the nurse to keep in mind before interviewing the family?
A) A top nursing priority would be to legally remove the son from the home.
B) The main focus of the nurse's actions should be on improving the elderly mother's self-esteem.
C) The nurse must allow the older adult mother to decide whether she wants to leave the situation.
D) Placement for the older adult woman in a nursing home within the community is crucial.
Ans: C
Removing children and older adults from their families or caregivers often is necessary to ensure immediate safety. If the home of an abused or neglected child or older adult cannot be made safe, the nurse must facilitate the involvement of other professionals in placing the child or older adult in a foster home or nursing home. Still, intervening in cases of elder abuse is not a clear-cut issue. When an older adult's decision making is not impaired (competence is the legal term), he or she must be allowed an appropriate degree of autonomy in deciding how to manage the problem, even if the choice is to remain in the abusive situation. Forcing someone to do something against his or her wishes is in itself a form of victimization and denies autonomous decision making.
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