Kristen Simonetti (Edison) Nursing Home Abuse

26. March 2010 by student.

There are approximately 1.6 million seniors living in nursing homes across the
United States and another million live in long term care or assisted living facilities. When it’s time for loved ones to look for nursing homes, it can get pretty scary considering the statistics. 44% of nursing home residents have suffered some sort of abuse, and 48% reported having been treated or handled roughly. 38% reported have witnessed the abuse of others. Considering the fact that 66% of nursing home residents suffer from Alzheimer’s disease or other cognitive problems can severely limits their ability to take care of themselves or be aware that abuse is occurring.   

So why is this problem not more under control? A lot of nursing home staff members blame that they are short staffed. Studies show actually 85% of nursing home employees blames the shortage???! Seriously???? I find this issue is close to my heart. I’m going to school for occupational therapy and my favorite setting so far has been in the nursing home. I can’t imagine witnessing abuse or even thinking that any of the patients I work with get abused. No matter how stressed out or frustrated you are, you shouldn’t mistreat the patient. 

There are many different forms of abuse other than physical abuse. There is emotional abuse or psychological abuse. People speak or treat elders in ways that can cause emotional pain. Employees can intimidate the residents by yelling or threatening them. There is also non-verbal abuse when they ignore or isolate the resident.  

A less visible sign of physical abuse is sexual abuse. It can happen in the form of rape, inappropriate touching, and taking of sexually explicit photos, or many other ways.  Since many residents living in nursing homes are very frail and weak this makes them target for sexual abuse if there is a staff member that chooses to be that disgusting and inappropriate with the residents.  

There is also financial exploitation. Employees can take advantage and misuse the resident’s person checks, credit card, and accounts.  

Healthcare fraud can also be considered “abuse.” This can be carried out by unethical doctors, nurses, hospital personnel, and other care givers. This is considered abuse when they don’t provide the proper healthcare, but charge for it. Some facilities have been caught over charging or double-billing for medial care can services.  

Little sociological research has been done in this area to help understand why anyone would commit such a horrible crime against these residents. The issue of elder abuse has traditionally been mainly discussed in the light of the media rather than the empirically researched. As the percentage of these incidents are growing, sociological research is desperately needed in order to identify the causes of elder abuse and help stop it before it starts.  

If you are looking for a nursing home for a loved one, the best thing to do is to research the facility and talk to people in the community.  

http://www.helpguide.org/mental/elder_abuse_physical_emotional_sexual_neglect.htm

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