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Elder Abuse in Nursing Homes: Part 2

(This is the second half in a two-part series. Read Elder Abuse in Nursing Homes: Part 1.)

You may have read past missives in which I described a day in the life of an independent living resident—namely, my grandfather. While Grandpa is not yet a candidate for a skilled nursing facility, the thought of any harm coming to him at the hands of a caregiver (or anyone for that matter) makes my blood boil. However, rather than fester at what might or might not happen, I prefer to think positively and proactively. Last week, we talked about a very specific form of elder abuse—the kind that occurs in nursing homes. Now that we’ve identified the indicators of this type of abuse, its signs and an elderly person’s rights, I’m going to tell you why it happens in the first place, and how to stop it dead in its tracks.

Why Does Elder Abuse Occur in Nursing Homes?

It’s a no-brainer to deduce that many seniors living in nursing homes aren’t able to care for themselves as they once did. Some seniors may have dementia and may be quite frail. The frail elderly are easy targets for elder abuse. Notwithstanding, the instances of nursing home neglect and abuse are oftentimes attributed to the way in which a facility is run—or, in some cases, how it isn’t run.

Most situations of abuse result from the problem of attracting and retaining qualified, skilled staff as well as inadequate training, according to the findings of the National Academy of Sciences. With the growing number of seniors living in nursing homes, the long-term care industry is feeling the impact. Low wages, high employee turnover and lack of qualified applicants also contribute to the problem. These factors trickle down directly to staff.

When a facility is understaffed, existing employees can become overworked and stressed, which often results in carelessness in carrying out their daily routines. The scary aspect of this is that “daily routines” include providing food and water, administering medication correctly and tending to a resident’s hygiene on time! Poor training, due in part to high staff turnover, means that new staffers are sometimes thrown into a job before receiving adequate instruction—causing staff members to make mistakes.

How to Prevent Elder Abuse in Nursing Homes

The National Center on Elder Abuse provides a combination of strategies to help protect our seniors against abuse and neglect in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. Some of the strategies include:

• Improving work conditions, through adequate staffing, better salaries, increased communication between direct care and administrative staff, and greater recognition, respect and understanding.
• Supporting education and training in managing difficult resident care situations, problem-solving, cultural issues, stress reduction techniques, information about dementia, and witnessing and reporting abuse.
• Assuring that hiring practices include criminal, substance abuse and domestic violence background checks.
• Determining a potential staffer’s feelings about caring for the elderly, work ethic, and ability to manage anger and stress.
• Supporting and strengthening resident councils.
• Promoting environments conducive to good care.
• Assuring coordination between law enforcement, regulatory, adult protection, and nursing home advocacy groups.
• Visiting and keeping in touch with loved ones in nursing homes, as well as familiarizing oneself with the staff that provides your loved one’s care.

Where to Report Nursing Home Abuse

• Dial 9-1-1.
• Contact your National Ombudsman Resource Center at (202) 332-2275.
• Call the State Elder Abuse Helplines and Hotlines.
• Consult with an elderly abuse lawyer.

Nursing Home Checklist

Doing your homework and a bit of research can give you a good idea of how well a nursing home treats its residents. Here are a few questions and tips to help you choose a high-quality facility as suggested by Nursing Home Abuse Support Group and Medicare:

• Is the facility and the current administrator licensed by the state to operate?
• Does the facility conduct background checks on all staff?
• Does the facility provide nursing home neglect and abuse prevention training?
• Is the nursing home located close enough for family and friends to visit?
• Is staff interaction with residents warm, polite and respectful?

Elder abuse is a very sensitive matter and talking about it is difficult, especially if you are a victim. However, we’ll continue to raise awareness and discuss this topic until the people who need to...listen.

Until our next conversation,

Ami Icanberry

Read Elder Abuse in Nursing Homes: Part 1. Download our Nursing Home Checklist: Touring.

Posted in: Elder Abuse, Understanding Elder Abuse

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