Self-Determination of the Elderly Needs and Elder Abuse

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Table of Contents

Self-Determination
Elder Abuse
References

Self-Determination

When it comes to assessing older patients’ needs, social workers should draw sufficient attention. The rationale is that it is typical when these individuals’ needs are ignored when caregivers make decisions on their behalf. This scenario can result in infantilism, compromised self-determination, and other adverse issues. Thus, the Petrakis family case demonstrates that Magda is an older individual whose needs should have been assessed according to seven domains, and it is necessary to offer additional questions to investigate the situation.

The seven domains reveal that it is essential to focus on a person’s internal concerns and the environment. These domains include physical well-being and health, psychological well-being and health, cognitive capacity, ability to perform basic and instrumental activities of daily living, social functioning, physical environment, and assessment of family caregivers (Christ & Diwan, 2008). Each of these areas is equally essential, denoting that none of them should be neglected.

Now, it is reasonable to consider what decisions were made regarding Magda’s situation. Plummer et al. (2014) demonstrate that Magda broke her hip and was diagnosed with dementia. It means that the physical health, psychological health, cognitive capacity, and ability to perform basic and instrumental activities of daily living were assessed. However, Christ and Diwan (2008) admit that social functioning and physical environment are essential spheres, but Magda’s caregivers did not draw attention to them and her opinions while making decisions. The rationale is that the patient lost her ties with friends and did not have assisting tools and devices to motivate her movement. Finally, Magda’s opinion was taken into account when Helen decided that it would be appropriate to ask Alec to care for his grandmother (Plummer et al., 2014). The summarized assessment of Magda’s situation demonstrates that her needs were disregarded for social functioning and physical environment domains.

If I were to work with Magda, I would conduct a few formal assessments for the client. Firstly, specific questionnaires and tests, including the Pheiffer’s Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire and the six-item Orientation-Memory-Concentration Test, would be suitable to assess the patient’s mental health (Paveza, 2013). Secondly, the direct assessment of functioning would be an optimal tool to assess Magda’s functional ability because this instrument was designed for individuals with dementia (Paveza, 2013). Finally, it would also be necessary to evaluate Magda’s emotional and social domains because they can contribute to better health outcomes. It would be reasonable to use the results of these assessment steps to offer any treatment plan.

The information above also demonstrates that it could be reasonable to ask Magda and her support system some questions. On the one hand, I would ask Magda how she assesses her physical and psychological health. Her answer could demonstrate what care and treatment she would expect. On the other hand, I would contact nurses and doctors to identify whether it would be necessary to encourage the patient to perform some activities independently. If yes, I would find the most optimal strategy to implement it.

In conclusion, the case of Magda reveals that it is necessary to draw attention to patients’ internal concerns and environmental conditions. If any of these dimensions are neglected, it is possible to expect that older people’s health outcomes will be compromised. In an attempt to avoid this problem, social workers should cooperate with patients and their support systems to assess all their needs and choose the most suitable treatment plan.

Elder Abuse

Article Summary

The United States of America is an aging society, and it is not a surprise that older individuals should deserve more attention from social workers. The significant problem is that many individuals are subject to elder abuse. Shepherd and Brochu (2021) have written an article titled “How Do Stereotypes Harm Older Adults? A Theoretical Explanation for The Perpetration of Elder Abuse and Its Rise” that addresses elder abuse. This term stands for “a single, or repeated act, or lack of appropriate action, occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust, which causes harm or distress to an older person” (Shepherd & Brochu, 2021, par. 5). This qualitative study focuses on people of 60 years old and higher and demonstrates that it is necessary to identify and address this abuse to protect the physical and mental well-being of the elderly.

Reinforcing the Importance of Assessing Abuse and Neglect

A few specific factors contribute to the fact that elder abuse is widespread in society. An article by Shepherd and Brochu (2021) demonstrates that many stereotypes result in this state of affairs. The scholars stipulate that older individuals are typically considered cooperative, warm, inoffensive, and the least competent. Consequently, this assumption makes some young individuals believe that the needs of the elderly can be neglected, which leads to physical, financial, and emotional harm. The authors have arrived at this conclusion by relying on the stereotype content model and BIAS map. Shepherd and Brochu (2021) stipulate that this study is suitable for numerous individuals, including average citizens, healthcare professionals, policymakers, and others, because it makes them overcome the current stereotypes and treat older individuals properly. Consequently, the authors state that the spread of beliefs that older individuals are less competent and inoffensive denotes that these people are subject to psychosocial issues, including neglect and harm. Thus, the scholars admit that it is necessary to assess abuse and neglect to ensure that this population group is free from various psychosocial issues.

Prevention and Intervention Strategies

Micro: Firstly, it is reasonable to comment on the micro level because healthcare and social worker professionals often cooperate with and have prejudiced opinions regarding older patients (Shepherd & Brochu, 2021). In this case, it is rational to encourage these professionals to use comprehensive assessments of older individuals to identify their total capacity (Christ & Diwan, 2008). This intervention will contribute to the fact that social workers and healthcare professionals will not have any prejudice toward older individuals, which will denote that the latter will be free from psychosocial issues.

Mezzo: Secondly, the mezzo level implies that the social group of older individuals face many biases. Some stereotypes make people believe that older individuals are low-competent, meaning that it is rational to increase the public awareness of these prejudiced opinions to limit their effect. A suitable option is to organize public campaigns that will spread the idea that older individuals are fully-fledged members of society.

Macro: Thirdly, the macro level denotes that it is necessary to address a larger scale. This statement indicates that a focus is to change attitudes toward the aged population in the whole country. Harrington (2016) stipulates that a suitable option is to promote spirituality principles in society because they contribute to individuals’ improved well-being. Even though it can be challenging to implement these interventions, they will prevent elder abuse and neglect.

References

Christ, G., & Diwan, S. (2008). Chronic illness and aging: The role of social work in managing chronic illness care. Council in Social Work Education. Web.

Harrington, A. (2016). The importance of spiritual assessment when caring for older adults.Ageing and Society, 36(1), 1-16. Web.

Paveza, G. J. (2013). Assessment of the elderly. In M. J. Holosko, C. N. Dulmus, & K. M. Sowers (Eds.), Social work practice with individuals and families: Evidence-informed assessments and interventions (pp. 177-195). Wiley.

Plummer, S.-B., Makris, S., & Brocksen, S. M. (Eds.). (2014). Sessions: Case histories. Laureate International Universities Publishing.

Shepherd, B. F., & Brochu, P. M. (2021). How do stereotypes harm older adults? A theoretical explanation for the perpetration of elder abuse and its rise. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 57, 101435. Web.

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