Bruising in older adults: what do social workers need to know?

Vicary, Sarah A. O. and Reynolds, Janet (2015). Bruising in older adults: what do social workers need to know? Journal of Adult Protection, 17(6) pp. 351–359.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/JAP-11-2014-0035

Abstract

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to discuss a research study exploring one aspect of adult safeguarding, that of non-accidental injury in older adults, specifically bruising. The study was undertaken with a view to analysing the current relevant literature and examining current practitioners’ views concerning bruising in older adults in order to understand social work practitioners’ awareness of and training in bruising.
Design/methodology/approach
– The paper describes a small-scale research study including two focus groups of social work and nursing practitioners. Themes arising from transcripts are coded by the analyst and are discussed in light of the summary and explanation of the literature reviewed following an initial scoping and exclusion exercise.
Findings
– The paper found that there is some evidence of typical and atypical non-accidental bruising emerging in older adults similar to that of children, but this tends to be treated as a clinical matter and mostly directed at medical staff.
Research limitations/implications
– Because of the chosen research aim, the research results focus on social work practitioners. Researchers are encouraged to explore other constituents further and to extend the scope of the literature review in terms of date and type.
Practical implications
– This paper will be of interest to all those concerned with the effective understanding of bruising as a sign of non-accidental injury in older people and especially the extent to which social work practitioners and others have to consider bruising during the course of their work with older people.
Originality/value
– This paper fulfils an identified need to study what social work practitioners and others need to know during the course of their work with older adults.

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