Which client is at most risk for elder abuse?

• A. One with dementia
• B. One with cancer
• C. One with arthritis
• D. One who is blind

Answer: (A)

Vulnerability due to cognitive decline and dependence increases the risk of elder abuse. The client with dementia is at the greatest risk because dementia affects memory, judgment, and the ability to communicate needs or report harm. Those living with dementia often require assistance with daily activities and are more dependent on caregivers, which can create opportunities for neglect, financial exploitation, or emotional harm. The combination of impaired communication, behavioral symptoms, and dependence makes abuse harder to detect and harder for the person to resist or escape. While someone with cancer, arthritis, or blindness has care needs, they do not inherently bring the same level of cognitive impairment and communication barriers that dementia introduces, so the risk profile is higher with dementia.