Clinical Review
Preventing Suicide Among Elderly Patients
Fed Pract. 2004 May;21(5):32
Author(s):
Valente S
Author and Disclosure Information
Sharon Valente, PhD, ACNS
Dr. Valente is a research and education adult clinical nurse specialist at the West Los Angeles VA Healthcare Center, Los Angeles, CA; a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing; and an assistant professor of nursing at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles.
The rate at which elderly Americans commit suicide is nearly 50% higher than that of the general population. And, though most of these seniors visit a health care provider within six months of committing the act, the opportunity for prevention often is missed.