Abuse in the Long-term Care Setting

Abuse in the Long-term Care Setting

Long-term care nursing is a healthcare practice that takes care of the emotional and physical requirements of patients who are recovering from surgeries, the elderly, individuals with critical injuries, and chronically incapacitated patients. The primary purpose of long-term care nursing is to minimize the effects of disabilities or accidents to develop independence (Gimm, Chowdhury & Castle, 2018). However, long-term care in Canada faces various challenges. For instance, inadequate clinical staffs, long term care staff members are usually isolated, self-reliant, and extremely busy. Also, there are rising cases of elderly abuse. Concerning the elderly patients who are in long-term care institutions, and are recovering from surgeries, accidents, or chronic incapacitation, cases of patient abuse are on the rise. As a result, skilled nursing facilities are preferable as compared to public nursing homes or assisted living facilities since they prioritize their patients’ well-being; thus, they never have cases of abuse against recovering patients in the long-term care systems.

A national survey of residential long-term care facilities was conducted in Canada. And nationwide, 7.6% of assisted living residents engaged in physical aggression or abuse toward other residents or staff in the past month, 9.5% of residents had exhibited verbal assault or injury, and 2.0% of resident engaged in sexual aggression or abuse toward other residents or staff (Gimm, Chowdhury & Castle, 2018). What is more, over one hundred deaths within long-term care facilities are related to the resident-resident aggression in long-term care. The elderly abuse comprises of five vital components. That is, inflicted physical pain that could cause injuries; psychological abuse towards the elderly that causes emotional harm like depression. Also, sexual abuse and financial exploitation are among the main components of elderly abuse. The prevalence of violence and aggression is a challenging factor in the health sector. As a result, it calls for the first action from the government of Canada, responsible policymakers, and long-term caregivers.

Culture is essential in older immigrants’ perceptions of elder abuse and neglect, yet individuals with the same cultural roots may differ in their conceptualizations (Zhang, 2019). What is more, through the influence of various structural and cultural factors, the initial perceptions of the elderly could change after extensive interactions with peers and non-peers in the long-term care settings in Canada.  Abandonment is one of the most impacting challenges in elderly abuse. Today, cultural practices have changed; as a result, younger people in Canada are not willing to care for the elderly. And this leads to steadily increasing cases of older patients being left alone in the care institutions with no family members or friends. Abandonment poses a considerable challenge for the elderly physical and emotional health since medical care might be delayed as the management investigates whether they merit fee waivers. In the long run, the elderly perceive themselves as unwanted and burden to their close family members and friends. Due to the continually changing cultural practices, the elderly have lost respect and significant societal roles. As a result, there are numerous cases of aggravated malnutrition, especially for elderly immigrants in long-term care settings. Due to increased economic urgency, society prioritizes the elderly immigrants last, and the patients perceive the care as a disregard for their well-being.

Abuse of Alzheimer’s and Dementia-Ridden Residents in the long-term care environment is a reality, and it deserves strategic solutions. It is believed that between one and two million US citizens over the age of 65 have been mistreated, exploited, or even injured by a caregiver (Mileski et al. 2019). Despite the prevalence of abuse of the elderly, there are various solutions to this menace. First of all, the implementation of programs and policies, which involves the development of new forms and structures of company policies, which could be initiated by the long-term care facility, the local and federal government. What is more, the administration should have open door programs where patients, family members, and caregivers can discuss cases of abuse or potential factors that could to abuse within the care setting of residents with either dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Another solution is the provision of extra training and educational programs to the caregivers to sensitize the less experienced or the unqualified personnel (Mileski et al. 2019). Exclusive education on care and the aging process via precise seminars and promoting staff self-awareness on environmental aspects such as culture and social interaction ensures high-quality care for elderly patients with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. The elderly are very important to the younger generation, and it is not humane to abuse them. Thus, caregivers should foster healthy medical practices and eliminate the abuse of any sort.

Generally, about twenty percent of medical beneficiaries in long-term care homes experience adverse events, half of which were avoidable. In the older patients’ sector, there are constant medical errors, preventable infections, and ulcers, which results from stress and pressure. Also, there are rising cases of elderly abuse within this setting. These challenges are common since care institutions implement outdated technologies and poor safety strategies. Thus, establishing a diverse culture of safety is crucial to prevent patient injury or abuse.  Also, caregivers should have specific instructions, roles, and responsibilities that transition their medical care practice. Concerning the elderly patients who are in long-term care institutions, and are recovering from surgeries, accidents, or chronic incapacitation, cases of patient abuse are on the rise. As a result, skilled nursing facilities are preferable as compared to public nursing homes or assisted living facilities since they prioritize their patients’ well-being; thus, they never have cases of abuse against recovering patients in the long-term care systems.

References

Gimm, G., Chowdhury, S., & Castle, N. (2018). Resident aggression and abuse in assisted living. Journal of applied gerontology, 37(8), 947-964.

Mileski, M., Lee, K., Bourquard, C., Cavazos, B., Dusek, K., Kimbrough, K., … & McClay, R. (2019). Preventing The Abuse Of Residents With Dementia Or Alzheimer’s Disease In The Long-Term Care Setting: A Systematic Review. Clinical interventions in aging, 14, 1797.

Zhang, W. (2019). Perceptions of elder abuse and neglect by older Chinese immigrants in Canada. Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect, 31(4-5), 340-362.