Overview of Practical Applications of Healthcare Ethics for Older Adults

Abstract

Identifying and addressing ethical issues in the care of older adults can be complex and challenging in clinical settings. This article reviews specific ethical principles including autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, dignity, and justice, and explores them in the context of interprofessional geriatric care. Situations and related ethical components such as treatment in intensive care units, end-of-life care, dementia care, and aging with advancing technology are included. Case scenarios for each principle or situation are presented, followed by a practical ethical response, and a review of common ethical dilemmas seen in geriatric healthcare settings. Matters related to ethics can arise in these settings and include decision-making capacity, shared-decision making, informed consent, safety, treatment refusals, use of surrogate decision-makers, enhancing autonomy, and advance directives. Collaborative interprofessional discussions can help support clinicians in making ethically sound decisions and delivering person-centered care.