FAU Advanced Health Assessment Practice Test

What condition should you suspect in Mrs. Geller, who has bruises and is accompanied by her son?

1. Overuse of ASA

2. Frequent falls

3. Elder abuse

4. Depression

The correct answer is: Elder abuse

In the scenario involving Mrs. Geller, the presence of bruises raises immediate concerns that warrant further investigation. When assessing elderly patients, unexplained bruising can be indicative of elder abuse, especially when the patient is accompanied by a caregiver or family member, such as a son. This situation can suggest a power dynamic where the caregiver might be responsible for the injuries, intentionally or otherwise. Elder abuse encompasses physical, emotional, and financial harm to older adults, and signs such as unexplained bruising can be a crucial indicator. It's important to recognize that elderly individuals might be reluctant to disclose abuse due to fear of retribution, shame, or dependency on their caregiver. Therefore, the context of bruises appearing unexpectedly and the setting (e.g., accompanied by a son) warrant a cautious approach to rule out this serious possibility. Situations of frequent falls and the overuse of ASA (acetylsalicylic acid) could also lead to bruising, but they may not be as directly linked to the social context and the potential for caregiving-related issues as elder abuse would be. Depression, while it can affect an elder's overall safety and health, does not typically present as external physical signs like bruises without other contributing factors. Thus,