Elder & Child abuse & reporting in healthcare

1. Presented By:
Eneida Cruz, DNP, RN

2. Abuse
The willful infliction of physical pain, injury
or mental anguish, unreasonable
confinement, or the willful deprivation of
services which are necessary to maintain a
person’s physical and mental health.

3. Elder Abuse
The mistreatment of older persons in both
home and institutional settings. It is any
unnecessary suffering, whether self-inflicted
or other inflicted, which negatively affects
the quality of life of the older person.

4. Types of Elder Abuse
• Physical
– Including sexual abuse
• Financial/Material
• Neglect
– Self
• Psychological/Emotional

5. Elder Abuse Statistics
• Between 1.6 and 2 million older Americans
become victims of abuse or neglect in
domestic and institutional settings each year
• Women are the most likely victims of elder
abuse as well as persons 75 years and older

6. Intervention
• Suspected Abuse will be reported to the
Charge Nurse and COO
• Resident of a nursing home or 60 years old
notify the Institutionalized Elderly:
(609) 624-4262

7. Child Abuse
Child abuse is defined by the U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services as any recent
act or failure to act on that results in a
child’s serious physical or emotional harm,
sexual abuse, exploitation or death. An act
or failure to act that presents a risk of
serious harm to a child is also considered to
be child abuse.

8. Types of Child Abuse
• Physical
• Neglect
– Emotional
– Physical
• Verbal
• Emotional
• Sexual

9. Child Abuse Statistics
• The United States has one of the worst records among industrialized
nations – losing on average between 4 and 7 children every day to child
abuse and neglect
• Yearly, referrals to state child protective services involve 6.6 million
children, and around 3.2 million of those are subject to an investigation
• Child abuse is reported on an average every 10 seconds
• Child abuse occurs at every socioeconomic level, across ethnic and
cultural lines, within all religions and at all levels of education
• More than 70% of the children who died as a result of child abuse or
neglect were 2 years of age or younger

10. Reporting of Child Abuse
• Mandatory
• National Child Abuse Hotline
1-800-422-4453
• Contact Social Services at University
Hospital who act as liaison with DYFS and
law enforcement staff

11. Domestic Violence
Domestic violence occurs when someone you
have a domestic relationship with hurts you
(with or without a weapon) or gives you a
reason to believe they are going to hurt you.
It is not a gender issue, but a power and
control issue.

12. Types of Domestic Violence
• Physical
– Actual
– Threat
• Sexual
• Psychological
– Verbal intimidation
– Stalking
– Harassment
• Economics

13. Cycle of Domestic Violence
Tension
Building
Violence
Seduction
Love
Hope
Fear

14. Intervention
•Communicate your concern for patient
safety
•Offer resources as needed
•National Hotline 1-800-799-7233

15. “Home is where the heart
is. But home isn’t a
haven for everyone.”