DQ: What Characteristics Would Lead a Provider to Suspect Domestic Violence, Child Abuse, or Elder Abuse is Taking Place Within a Family?

Topic 5 DQ 2

DQ: What Characteristics Would Lead a Provider to Suspect Domestic Violence, Child Abuse, or Elder Abuse is Taking Place Within a Family?

The presence of bruises on a child’s body, burns, fractures, frequent hunger, poor hygiene, little or no emotion when hurt, age-inappropriate sexual behavior, stealing food, excessive friendliness to strangers, and wearing long sleeves and pants in hot weather to conceal bruises are indicators of domestic violence, child abuse, or elder abuse within a family.

The facility’s procedure for reporting these types of abuse involves, providing the details of the child being abused, taking note of the child’s change in behavior, providing photographs of injuries, providing description of the victims injuries, writing any statements from the child or from any other witness as well as providing any known family information/ cultural practices. It is the nurse’s responsibility to understand that some cultural beliefs may incorporate health practices that are considered unsafe or unhealthy to other cultures that do not share the same beliefs (Falkner, 2018). (Falkner, 2018). Obtaining the cultural information can sometime explain the markings on patients bodies that in one culture is normal and another it is viewed or considered child or elder abuse.

Falkner, A. (2018). Cultural Sensitivity Health and Wellness Across the Continuum, edited by Grand Canyon University. https://lc.gcumedia.com/nrs429vn/health-promotion-health-and-wellness-across-the-continuum/v1.1/#/chapter/3

DQ: What characteristics would lead a provider to suspect domestic violence, child abuse, or elder abuse is taking place within a family?

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Unfortunately, domestic violence is a pervasive issue in the modern world. Working in an emergency room, I have witnessed numerous forms of violence. I’ve witnessed violence against children, a woman, and a man. Violence is without bounds. If a child is repeatedly brought to the ER with multiple broken arms/legs as a result of falling, we would contact the child line. In my state, the child line is the number to call to report suspected child abuse. The organization will then follow up with the family after their release. A trained individual is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to assist women and men who have been sexually assaulted. This nurse would be sane. This nurse is trained to collect samples and take photographs to document instances of abuse. Raising awareness and developing rigorous programs, practices, and policies to prevent intimate partner violence are crucial for preventing violent behavior before it begins (CDC Grand Rounds: A Public Health Approach to Prevention of Intimate Partner Violence, 2019). The majority of prevention strategies concentrate on preventing violence before it occurs. This will necessitate the participation of numerous crucial sectors, including education, the media, housing and community development, criminal justice, transportation, and private industry (CDC Grand Rounds: A Public Health Approach to Prevention of Intimate Partner Violence, 2019).

A Public Health Approach to Preventing Intimate Partner Violence, CDC Grand Rounds (2019). https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6302a4.htm?s cid percent 3Dmm6302a4 x

Violence and abuse are defined as the intentional infliction of physical, mental, or psychological harm on a vulnerable individual. This includes hitting, berating, and yelling, as well as other forms of intentional cruelty. In addition to threats or mild verbal or physical assaults, victims of domestic violence comply with the abuser’s demands. The victims feel trapped, dependent, powerless, and helpless. They may experience depression as a result of being trapped in the abuser’s cycle of power and control. As a victim’s self-esteem declines due to prolonged abuse, he or she will blame themselves for the violence and be unable to see an escape route. Neglect is defined as any intentional or unintentional lack of concern for the well-being of another, such as failing to meet the basic needs of a dependent. Child maltreatment, child neglect, adult maltreatment, adult neglect, and domestic violence are all examples of abuse and neglect.

A mandatory leader may suspect abuse or neglect if a family member exhibits bruising, malnutrition, depression, extreme fear, extortion, or other similar symptoms. However, this list is not exhaustive and there exist additional elements. There is no one-size-fits-all solution, but mandatory reporters are expected to look for trends of concern and various indicators of problems; to ask questions if necessary and to report anything they believe, even if they are not 100 percent certain.

A teacher may suspect child abuse, for instance, if a student is chronically underweight and appears desperate to consume as much food as possible at school. A nurse may suspect domestic violence if a woman arrives at the emergency room with severe bruises and physical injuries that do not appear to be the cause of her medical problems. If a senior pays large sums of money to a single person or if a family member micromanages their finances, a mental health professional may suspect elder abuse.

A required reporter must be aware of the appropriate authority to which the alleged violence and neglect should be reported. In the case of child violence, each state has a department of child services (also known as social services) that should be contacted through the appropriate channels, such as hot lines. Domestic abuse should be reported to local law enforcement. Adult services agencies in each state deal with elder abuse and other forms of maltreatment of dependent adult.

References

Abuse of children – reporting procedures (2019). Improved Health Channel https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/child-abuse-reporting-procedures

Abuse of the elderly: types, signs, and reporting. (2020, June 11). Find Senior Living, Assisted Living, and Memory Care on A Place for Mom. https://www.aplaceformom.com/caregiver-resources/articles/elder-abuse