Elder Abuse: Ethical and Related Considerations for Professionals in Psychology

Abstract

Elder abuse presents difficult ethical considerations that the field of psychology has yet to sufficiently address. As demographics and sociocultural factors shift in the coming decade, this deficit in ethical competence may become an increasingly serious problem. Although legal definitions of elder abuse lack uniformity and clarity, there is much room for improvement in the field of psychology. Ethical considerations most relevant to professionals in psychology draw heavily on the principles of beneficence and nonmaleficence and respect for people's rights and dignity. Professional standards of competence, discrimination, informed consent, privacy and confidentiality, and cooperation with other professionals are also critical in these considerations. A number of recommendations are made, centering around the needs for more education, frank discussion, and empirical examination of the complexities of elder abuse.

Keywords:

• elder abuse
• ethical issues
• aging

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Gratitude is expressed to Nan Presser, PhD, Jennifer Cornish, PhD, James Bow, PhD, and James Preis, JD, for their support and guidance in the writing of this article.