What are some causes of nursing home abuse?
You may trust nursing facility workers to care for your elderly loved one because you have neither space nor the ability to offer him or her full-time attention, but what happens when abuse or neglect takes place? The World Health Organization reports that over 50% of nursing home workers engaged in abuse over the past 12 months and that cases of abuse are usually more prevalent in nursing homes than in other elder care settings, such as assisted living facilities.
If you suspect elder abuse at your loved one’s nursing home, understanding what causes it may help you spot warning signs early on.
Lack of social support
Some nursing home workers may feel socially isolated and become frustrated about their tasks. With few emotional outlets, they may begin to express these feelings with abusive action toward their charges, including:
- Willful neglect
- Psychological abuse
- Physical abuse
In cases where the facility operates more for financial gain than for the care of its residents, staff members may feel ambivalent toward their work, which could lead to abuse.
Insufficient facility standards
Some nursing home properties do not maintain a healthy or sufficient standard of care. Some of the most common signs of this issue include a noticeable lack of staff, poor or inconsistent housekeeping and incomplete training for the employees. Touring local facilities to compare standards before making a choice may help you protect your elderly family member from abuse.
Injuries that occur as a result of nursing home abuse can have far-reaching physical and emotional effects. Increased caregiver training and improved nationwide facility standards may help to reduce this issue in the future.
