Elder abuse and neglect: an overlooked patient safety issue. A focus group study of nursing home leaders’ perceptions of elder abuse and neglect

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to explore the factors that influence the reporting of adverse events related to elder abuse and neglect in nursing homes from nursing home leaders' perspectives. Good leadership requires in-depth knowledge of the care and service provided and the ability to identify and address problems that can arise in clinical practice.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative explorative design with data triangulation was used. The sample consisted of 43 participants from two levels of nursing home leadership, representing six municipalities and 21 nursing homes in Norway. Focus group interviews were undertaken with 28 ward leaders and individual interviews with 15 nursing home directors. The constant comparative method was used for the analyses.FindingsBoth ward leaders and nursing home directors described formal and informal ways of obtaining information related to elder abuse and neglect. There were differences between their perceptions of the feasibility of obtaining formal reports about abuse in the nursing home. Three main categories of influencing factors emerged: (1) organisation structural factors, (2) cultural factors and (3) abuse severity factors. A main finding is that in its present form, the Norwegian adverse event reporting system is not designed to detect abuse and neglect.Originality/valueThis paper provides an in-depth understanding of patient safety and factors related to reporting elder abuse in nursing homes in Norway.

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Investigating Elder Abuse and Neglect in Diverse Refugee Communities in Greensboro, NC

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igab046.1059 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 274-274

Author(s):

S Sudha ◽

Narayan Khadka

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Focus Group ◽

English Language ◽

Elder Abuse ◽

Service Organizations ◽

Job Skills ◽

Marginalized Communities ◽

Elder Abuse And Neglect ◽

Abuse And Neglect ◽

Group Interviews

Abstract Elder abuse and neglect (EAN) comprises multiple dimensions, is experienced by about 10% of older adults in the U.S in diverse communities, and is severely detrimental to older adults’ (OA) health and wellbeing. However, documentation of EAN among refugee OA is greatly lacking as are services for these communities. Refugee OA are overall underserved members of marginalized communities. This paper reports on a community-engaged study to collect information and raise awareness of EAN among OA in 2 North Carolina refugee communities - Nepali-speaking Bhutanese and Congolese. Research partners included University researchers and community refugee-serving organizations. Surveys and focus group interviews were conducted. 17 Nepali-speaking Bhutanese and 13 Congolese filled out survey questions, including the Elder Abuse Suspicion Index. They participated in focus group discussions (FGDs), separately for men and women of each community. Survey results indicated EAN more among Congolese than Nepali-speaking Bhutanese. FGD results showed both communities prefer to depend on family members, and experience difficulties with language, transportation, and economic insecurity. No EAN was reported in the FGDs. In line with principles of community-engaged approaches, a capacity-building event to increase awareness of EAN was held, attended by 25 persons from the two communities. This study adds documentation on an under-researched area and marginalized communities. Action recommendations include disseminating culturally appropriate EAN information, strengthening English language and job skills and transportation options, encouraging cooperation across state, nonprofit, educational, and service organizations to address needs of older refugee adults.

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Impact of Sensitization of Family Caregivers upon Treatment Compliance among Geriatric Patients Suffering from Elder Abuse and Neglect

Healthcare ◽

10.3390/healthcare9020226 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 226

Author(s):

Rishabh Garg ◽

Khurshid Mattoo ◽

Lakshya Kumar ◽

Imran Khalid ◽

Fawaz Baig ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Family Caregivers ◽

Treatment Satisfaction ◽

Geriatric Patients ◽

Elder Abuse ◽

Treatment Compliance ◽

Control Group ◽

Elder Abuse And Neglect ◽

Abuse And Neglect ◽

Group B ◽

The Impact

Geriatric patients in various outpatient department (OPDs) have been found to agonize from elder abuse and neglect (EAN). Such suffering imposes depressive states within individuals, which in turn affects treatment compliance. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of sensitization (psychotherapeutic) of family caregivers (FCGs) upon two denture treatment parameters (maintenance and treatment satisfaction) among EAN patients and compare the differences in outcome with non-abused patients. A survey of completely edentulous subjects (n = 860, aged 41–80 years) provided a sampling frame of 332 EAN patients from which 150 patients (including FCGs) fulfilling the study criteria were distributed (simple random, convenient) into two groups (Group A—control, Group B—test). FCG sensitization for subjects in Group B was performed by a clinical psychologist in 2–4 short (30 min) sessions. Demographic characteristics (frequency) were measured using a self-reported questionnaire, denture maintenance was measured using a denture hygiene index (scores), and treatment satisfaction was analyzed on a 10-point visual analog scale. Relevant data were calculated for means and absolute/relative frequencies. Any difference between two groups was estimated using an unpaired t-test while the level of relationship was determined by Karl Pearson’s test at a p-value of < 0.05. The results showed highest frequency (38.6%) for neglect, with elder neglect (EN) being most common (38.14% alone and 14% in combination). EN was found more if the FCG was a son (52%), in the age group (21–30 years), and with low education and low income (75%). Patients whose FCGs were counselled (Group B) demonstrated low denture plaque scores (mean = 1.38 ± 0.618), while demonstrating comparatively higher scores in six different parameters of treatment satisfaction. Differences between the two groups for both parameters were also found to be statistically significant. Psychotherapeutic counselling in the form of FCG sensitization brings better results of denture maintenance and treatment satisfaction.

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Elder Abuse and Neglect in China: Prevalence, Co-occurrence, and Intergenerational Risk Factors

Journal of Interpersonal Violence ◽

10.1177/0886260520985501 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 088626052098550

Author(s):

Mengtong Chen ◽

Ko Ling Chan

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Childhood Abuse ◽

Low Socioeconomic Status ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Elder Abuse ◽

Elderly Parents ◽

Contextual Risk ◽

Elder Abuse And Neglect ◽

The Past ◽

Abuse And Neglect

The prevalence and patterns of elder abuse and neglect in China have been understudied. The objectives of this study were to examine the chronicity and prevalence of different patterns of elder abuse, and the influence of individual and contextual risk factors. We used data from a sample of 7,466 adults randomly recruited from six regions in China. The participants responded to a questionnaire about their demographic characteristics, childhood abuse experiences, and instances of abuse and neglect against their elderly parents. Logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the association of elder abuse and neglect with individual and contextual factors. The results showed that one in 10 participants reported that their elderly parents had experienced abuse or neglect in the past year. The elder victims were reported to have suffered different types of abuse and neglect on multiple occasions, ranging from 3.6 to 11.82 times on average. More than 5% of participants reported that their elderly parents had suffered two or more types of abuse and neglect in the past year, accounting for 40% of the elderly victims. The co-occurrence of elder abuse within elderly couples was also high. Reports of abuse and neglect of elderly parents were related to low socioeconomic status, living in rural areas, and the experience of childhood abuse of the participants. This study supports the model of intergenerational transmission of violence in the Chinese population. The high prevalence, chronicity, and co-occurrence of elder abuse and neglect underline the importance of screening for risk factors, and have implications for preventive practice and policy.

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Use of Continuous Infusion Pumps During Radiation Treatment

Journal of Oncology Practice ◽

10.1200/jop.2012.000717 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 107-111 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Kate Bak ◽

Eric Gutierrez ◽

Elizabeth Lockhart ◽

Michael Sharpe ◽

Esther Green ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Patient Safety ◽

Radiation Exposure ◽

Continuous Infusion ◽

Radiation Treatment ◽

Safety Issue ◽

Infusion Pumps ◽

Additional Testing ◽

Infusion Devices ◽

Patient Safety Issue

The varied results of radiation exposure on infusion devices suggest that additional testing should be carried out to determine the limits of dose exposure, and to raise awareness around this patient safety issue.

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Patient safety and job-related stress: A focus group study

Intensive and Critical Care Nursing ◽

10.1016/j.iccn.2007.11.001 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 24 (2) ◽

pp. 90-97 ◽

Cited By ~ 49

Author(s):

Astrid Berland ◽

Gerd Karin Natvig ◽

Doris Gundersen

Keyword(s):

Patient Safety ◽

Focus Group ◽

Focus Group Study ◽

Related Stress ◽

Job Related Stress

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ELDER ABUSE AND NEGLECT IN MEDICINE AND LAW: THE NEED FOR REFORM

Journal of Legal Medicine ◽

10.1080/019476401750365174 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 22 (2) ◽

pp. 159-209 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Sana Loue

Keyword(s):

Elder Abuse ◽

Elder Abuse And Neglect ◽

Abuse And Neglect

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Consequences of Elder Abuse and Neglect: A Systematic Review of Observational Studies

Trauma Violence & Abuse ◽

10.1177/1524838017692798 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 20 (2) ◽

pp. 197-213 ◽

Cited By ~ 34

Author(s):

Raudah Mohd Yunus ◽

Noran Naqiah Hairi ◽

Wan Yuen Choo

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Health Care ◽

Low Income ◽

Observational Studies ◽

Elder Abuse ◽

Care Utilization ◽

Health Care Consumption ◽

Elder Abuse And Neglect ◽

Wide Range ◽

Abuse And Neglect

This article presents the results of a systematic review of the consequences of elder abuse and neglect (EAN). A systematic search was conducted in seven electronic databases and three sources of gray literature up to January 8, 2016, supplemented by scanning of citation lists in relevant articles and contact with field experts. All observational studies investigating elder abuse as a risk factor for adverse health outcomes, mortality, and health-care utilization were included. Of 517 articles initially captured, 19 articles met our inclusion criteria and were analyzed. Two reviewers independently performed abstract screening, full-texts appraisal, and quality assessment using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. Across 19 studies, methodological heterogeneity was a prominent feature; seven definitions of EAN and nine measurement tools for abuse were employed. Summary of results reveals a wide range of EAN outcomes, from premature mortality to increased health-care consumption and various forms of physical and psychological symptoms. Higher risks of mortality emerged as the most credible outcome, while the majority of morbidity outcomes originated from cross-sectional studies. Our findings suggest that there is an underrepresentation of older adults from non-Western populations and developing countries, and there is a need for more population-based prospective studies in middle- and low-income regions. Evidence gathered from this review is crucial in upgrading current practices, formulating policies, and shaping the future direction of research.

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