Essay --

Missouri Mandatory Reporting Laws Brandon Ruble Southwest Baptist University Missouri Mandatory Reporting Laws In a study performed by the National Center on Elder Abuse, Bureau of Justice in June 2013, a staggering 5,961,658 cases of elderly abuse occurred in 2010 (â€Å"Elderly Abuse†, n.d. para 1). That is approximately 9.5% of America’s population. As the elderly become unable to protect themselves or their interests, they are increasingly reliant on the healthcare professional to advocate on their behalf. Missouri has implemented legislation that provides the healthcare professional with resources to report elderly abuse, neglect and exploitation. This report gives the healthcare provider tools including definitions associated with elder abuse, clinical signs of abuse, and actions necessary when abuse is suspected. According to Missouri legislation (â€Å"Protective Services for Adults†, n.d.) abuse is defined as â€Å"the infliction of physical, sexual, or emotional injury or harm including financial exploitation by any person, firm or corporation (para. 4). Furthermore, neglect is â€Å"the failure to provide services to an eligible adult by any person, firm or corporation with a legal or contractual duty to do so, when such failure presents either an imminent danger to the health, safety, or welfare of the client†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (para. 4). Along with strict definitions of â€Å"abuse† and â€Å"neglect†, Missouri’s legislation also mandates that â€Å"†¦any person having reasonable cause to believe that there is a likelihood that, without protection, serious physical harm may occur to an eligible adult shall report information to the department† (â€Å"Protective Services for Adults†, n.d., para 6). It is therefore the duty of the registered nurse, as being th... ...e elder population. It is therefore necessary for the healthcare provider to become educated and thoroughly aware of the potential for elder adult abuse and neglect. Prevention of elder adult abuse is key, failing that, becoming the client’s advocate in situations where abuse and or neglect are suspected becomes the most important task. It is not only the ethical responsibility of the healthcare provider to report suspected cases of abuse and neglect it is mandatory in Missouri. References Elderly Abuse Statistics. (2013, June 18). In National Center on Elder Abuse, Bureau of Justice. Protective Services for Adults. (2010). In Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services. http://health.mo.gov/living/lpha/phnursing/protectiveservices.php Touhy, T. A., & Jett, K. (2010). Toward healthy aging: Human needs & nursing response (8th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier