Ethical analysis of community-based dementia screening for unhoused older adults

Screening for dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in community-based settings helps connect vulnerable older adults to medical and social support services promoting well-being. Referencing a universal screening program for unhoused older adults seeking emergency shelter services as a case e...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Squires, Alisa (Author) ; Bowman, Diana M (Author) ; Ross, Heather M (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Check availability: HBZ Gateway
Interlibrary Loan:Interlibrary Loan for the Fachinformationsdienste (Specialized Information Services in Germany)
Published: 2025
In: Nursing ethics
Year: 2025, Volume: 32, Issue: 8, Pages: 2551-2562
Further subjects:B Screening
B vulnerable population
B mild cognitive impairment
B Community-based setting
B Dementia
Online Access: Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
Description
Summary:Screening for dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in community-based settings helps connect vulnerable older adults to medical and social support services promoting well-being. Referencing a universal screening program for unhoused older adults seeking emergency shelter services as a case example, this paper calls attention to alignment of programmatic features with the four principles of biomedical ethics, beneficence, nonmaleficence, autonomy, and justice. Regarding beneficence, homeless services workers gain insight into clients’ needs and can facilitate engagement with resources to aid in their successful exiting of homelessness. Using assessment findings to promote safety in shelter environments incorporates nonmaleficence. Concerning autonomy, by choosing to share screening results with healthcare providers and other human service stakeholders such as public safety officials and social service professionals, older adults are empowered to take charge of their care. Justice is embodied by the ability to influence policy changes related to homelessness prevention and equitable distribution of health resources.
ISSN:1477-0989
Contains:Enthalten in: Nursing ethics
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1177/09697330251328672