topic: What characteristics would lead a provider to suspect domestic violence,

topic: What characteristics would lead a provider to suspect domestic violence, child abuse, or elder abuse is taking place within a family? Discuss your facility’s procedure for reporting these types of abuse.
example 1 ( Erin) “Elder abuse is an intentional act or failure to act that causes or creates a risk of harm to an older adult. An older adult is someone age 60 or older. The abuse occurs from a caregiver or a person the elder trusts” (CDC, 2020). There are different types of elder abuse, physical, sexual, emotional/ psychological, neglect and financial abuse. “Abuse including neglect and exploitation, is experienced by about 1 in 10 people aged 60 and older who live at home. From 2002 to 2016, more than 643,000 older adults were treated in the emergency department for nonfatal assaults and over 19,000 homicides occurred” ( CDC, 2020). Ways to determine that elder abuse is taking place is victims can be very fearful and anxious. They may be distrustful of others. They can have physical injuries, that are minor, like cuts, scratches, bruises, and welts. Other injuries could be more serious and include head injuries, broken bones, constant physical pain, and soreness. Physical injuries can also lead to premature death and make existing health problems worse.
In New York State, there is a county adult protective services bureau. “APS (Adult Protective Service) workers develop plans for eligible clients to remedy physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, or to address unmet, essential needs of adults. APS serves adults (age 18 and older) who, due to physical or mental impairments: are unable to protect themselves from abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, or other harm, and have no one available who is willing and able to assist responsibly” (Adult Protective Services, N.D.) They also can investigate and assess how harmful a situation is for a person. They provide counseling for the victim abused and their family. Case management provides location and arrangement of medical and mental health assessments and services needed, home health care, home-delivered meals, and homemaker or housekeeper chore services as needed. They can find alternative living arrangement’s as well as emergency room admission for a person up to 30 days. They can provide short-term involuntary protective services orders, orders of protection, admission to a psychiatric facility, admission to a developmental center; As well as Long-term involuntary interventions, such as seeking guardianship for persons who lack capacity or agree and who need protection to care for themselves, their property, or both (Adult Protective Services, n.d) Office of Children and Family Services. (n.d) Bureau of Adult Protective Services Adult Protective Services. https://ocfs.ny.gov/programs/adult-svcs/aps/
CDC, (2021) National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Division of Violence Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/elderabuse/…
Example 2 ( Renet) Healthcare providers must remain vigilant for certain characteristics that may indicate the presence of domestic violence, child abuse, or elder abuse within a family. These signs can vary depending on the type of abuse but often include physical injuries such as bruises, burns, fractures, or welts, especially when they are unexplained or inconsistent with the reported cause. Behavioral changes in patients, such as sudden withdrawal, anxiety, depression, or fearfulness, particularly when accompanied by reluctance to discuss injuries or offer explanations, could be indicative of abuse. Providers should also be alert to inconsistencies between the history provided by the patient or caregiver and the nature or cause of injuries observed during examination (Bloemen et al., 2021). Recurrent injuries or patterns of injuries, especially when coupled with a lack of appropriate medical care or delays in seeking treatment, may also signal ongoing abuse. Additionally, signs of isolation from social support networks, limited autonomy, or excessive control by a caregiver, spouse, or family member could be red flags for abuse. Neglect-related signs, such as poor hygiene, malnutrition, dehydration, untreated medical conditions, or inadequate living conditions, may indicate neglect or elder abuse.
Facilities typically have procedures in place for reporting suspected cases of abuse to appropriate authorities. This often involves detailed documentation of observations, examinations, and interactions with the patient or family members to support suspicions of abuse. Clear protocols are established outlining the steps to follow when abuse is suspected, including who to report to within the facility and the relevant external agencies or authorities. Interdisciplinary collaboration between healthcare providers, social workers, legal counsel, and other relevant personnel is essential to ensure a comprehensive response to suspected cases of abuse (McTavish et al., 2022). Facilities also prioritize patient confidentiality while providing support and resources to victims, including referrals to counseling, shelter services, legal aid, and other community resources. Ongoing education and training for staff increase awareness of the signs and reporting procedures for abuse, as well as strategies for providing sensitive and supportive care to victims. By following established reporting procedures and collaborating effectively, healthcare providers can play a crucial role in identifying and intervening in cases of domestic violence, child abuse, and elder abuse, ultimately helping to protect vulnerable individuals and families from harm.
References Bloemen, E. M., Rosen, T., Lindberg, D. M., & Krugman, R. D. (2021). How Experiences of Child Abuse Pediatricians and Lessons Learned May Inform Health Care Providers Focused on Improving Elder Abuse Geriatrics Clinical Practice and Research. Journal of family violence, 36(3), 389–398. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-020-00143-7
McTavish, J. R., Chandra, P. S., Stewart, D. E., Herrman, H., & MacMillan, H. L. (2022). Child Maltreatment and Intimate Partner Violence in Mental Health Settings. International journal of environmental research and public health, 19(23), 15672. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192315672