A 92-year-old patient who lives alone comes to an appointment with a new neighbor. She reports that she just bought the neighbor a new car so that the neighbor would be more comfortable bringing the patient to appointments. The nurse suspects financial abuse. What should the nurse do?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

4. The nurse has both an ethical and a legal obligation to ensure that older adults are safe from abuse and neglect and must follow the reporting procedures outlined by state regulations. Talking to the suspected abuser may expose the patient to more harm, since the nurse does not actually have the power to prevent further abuse. Telling the vulnerable patient to stop being dependent is unrealistic. The patient has not evidenced the need for skilled nursing care.

A 92-Year-Old Patient Who Lives Alone Comes to an Appointment