8.3 Elder Abuse, Neglect, and Mandated Reporting
Key Takeaways
- CNAs must recognize and report suspected abuse, neglect, exploitation, or misappropriation.
- Abuse can be physical, emotional, sexual, financial, neglectful, or abandonment-related.
- Do not investigate by confronting the suspected abuser; report through required channels.
- Unexplained injuries, fearfulness, poor hygiene, missing property, or sudden behavior changes may be warning signs.
- California facilities and workers must take abuse reporting seriously because resident safety is immediate.
Abuse Categories
Abuse is not limited to hitting. CNAs must watch for multiple forms.
| Type | Examples |
|---|---|
| Physical | Hitting, rough handling, unnecessary force |
| Emotional | Threats, humiliation, intimidation, isolation |
| Sexual | Non-consensual sexual contact or exposure |
| Financial | Taking money, coercing gifts, stealing property |
| Neglect | Failure to provide needed care |
| Abandonment | Leaving a dependent resident without care |
| Misappropriation | Taking or misusing resident belongings |
Warning Signs
Report suspected abuse when you observe:
- Unexplained bruises, burns, or fractures.
- Fear around a specific person.
- Sudden withdrawal or agitation.
- Poor hygiene, dehydration, or untreated wounds.
- Missing money or belongings.
- Resident statements about harm.
- Staff yelling, mocking, or threatening.
- Call lights ignored repeatedly.
What The CNA Should Do
Protect immediate safety, report promptly, and follow facility and legal reporting procedures. Do not promise secrecy.
If a resident says, "Do not tell anyone," respond with care: "I need to report this so you can be safe."
What Not To Do
Do not confront the suspected abuser, investigate beyond your role, ask leading questions, clean up evidence unnecessarily, or wait to see if it happens again.
Exam Tip
Any suspected abuse answer that says "ignore," "keep secret," "wait several days," or "handle it alone" is wrong. The safe answer reports.
A resident says a staff member slapped them and asks the CNA not to tell. What should the CNA do?
Which is an example of financial abuse?