Nursing Ethics in the Care of Elderly Patients: 
A Review of Challenges and Solutions

Zare, Alireza; Taklif, Mohammad Hossein; Javid, Alireza; Amadeh, Zahra; Farid, Negin

Volume 17 - Supplement of 11th Annual Iranian Congress of Medical Ethics IJMEHM 2024, 17 - Supplement of 11th Annual Iranian Congress of Medical Ethics : 1-2 | Back to browse issues page

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Zare A, Taklif M H, Javid A, Amadeh Z, Farid N. Nursing Ethics in the Care of Elderly Patients: A Review of Challenges and Solutions. IJMEHM 2024; 17 (S1) :1-2
URL: http://ijme.tums.ac.ir/article-1-7165-en.html

Nursing Ethics in the Care of Elderly Patients: A Review of Challenges and Solutions

Alireza Zare¹, Mohammad Hossein Taklif², Alireza Javid², Zahra Amadeh³, Negin Farid ^*⁴

1- Master of Science in Medical-Surgical Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad, Iran
2- Marine Medical Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
3- Master of Science in Medical-Surgical Nursing, Student Research Committee, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
4- Student Research Committee, Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Abstract: (176 Views)

As the global elderly population continues to rise, nursing care for this demographic faces increasing ethical challenges. The elderly are particularly vulnerable, requiring specialized care that addresses their physical, psychological, and social needs. However, these needs often present ethical dilemmas, including issues related to autonomy, informed consent, fairness in resource allocation, and managing conflicts between patients and their families. This systematic review aims to identify the ethical challenges nurses face in caring for elderly patients and to propose solutions that enhance the quality of care. A comprehensive search was conducted across several reputable databases, including PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, and Google Scholar, using keywords such as "nursing ethics", "elderly", "ethical challenges", and "ethical care". Articles published between 2010 and 2023 in English and Persian were considered for inclusion. After an initial screening, 40 eligible articles were selected for final analysis, and thematic analysis was used to interpret the data. The findings reveal several key ethical challenges for nurses in elderly care, including respecting patient autonomy, navigating decision-making processes in cases of cognitive decline, ensuring confidentiality, and managing family pressures. Additional difficulties include resource shortages, high workload, and limited access to ethics training. Proposed solutions to address these challenges include continuous ethics education, the development of comprehensive ethics protocols, and the formation of interdisciplinary teams to facilitate more informed decision-making. Addressing ethical challenges in elderly care requires robust planning and action from health systems. By establishing clear ethical guidelines, promoting ongoing education, and fostering a supportive work environment, the quality of care for elderly patients can be significantly improved. Further research should evaluate the effectiveness of these strategies in mitigating ethical issues within nursing practice.

Keywords: Nursing ethics, Elderly, Ethical challenges, Informed consent, Ethical care

Full-Text [PDF 368 kb] (48 Downloads)

Type of Study: Ethics Congress | Subject: Health Ethics Congress (11th) - Poster Presentation
Received: 2026/02/15 | Revised: 2026/02/24 | Accepted: 2024/12/22 | Published: 2024/12/22