Opening Pandora’s Box: A Comprehensive Approach to Home Violence Prevention

Abstract

The aim of this article is to describe a comprehensive approach to screening and intervening in home violence. Home care clinicians face a variety of potential abusive situations during the course of home visits. In the home, the victim may be the patient or the caregiver. The offender may be a related, paid, or professional caregiver or the patient. Abuse may be occurring between other persons in the home. A comprehensive home violence program embraces the horizon of abuse possibilities. The practical implications of merging domestic violence and elder abuse paradigms are discussed. Screening of both the patient and the caregiver is encouraged, and interventions are suggested for a number of situations.