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Elder Abuse Research Paper

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Bumps and bruises are a part of a person’s everyday life; but how do we determine accidental from intentional abuse. All registered hygienist in the state Kansas are required to be mandatory reporters if they suspect abuse is occurring. Failure to report suspected abuse can result in major consequences. When we think about abuse we often think of children first, but abuse has no age limit. Thousands of children, adults, and elderly people are victims of abuse and neglect each year. As health care professionals it is important to know some of the key behavioral attitudes and intraoral and extraoral signs to be aware of. There are several different categories of family maltreatment, which include: physical violence, physical neglect, sexual violence, and emotion abuse. Abuse, is the non-accidental physical, emotional, or sexual act. Neglect, is the intentional or unintentional failure to provide for a …show more content…
Every year an estimated 4 million older Americans are victims of abuse and neglect (Elders Abuse and Neglect: In Search of Solutions. n.d.). Surprisingly the majority abuse and neglect of elders is not occurring in nursing home, most elder abuse takes place in their own home, by a spouse, sibling or family member. Just like in child abuse, the dental team can play a big role in detecting the abuse and neglect and provide protection for the elder. Often times the abused elder patient will appear withdrawn, anxious and shy, and will have illogical reasons as to how a lesion or bruise occurred. The patient may have unexplained bite marks, poor personal hygiene, lip trauma, fractured teeth, bruising on edentulous areas, fractured denture or sexually transmitted diseases in the oral cavity. If a patients presents with these types of lesions, it is important to follow correct reporting protocol and getting the patient help as soon as

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