Violence in the care of adult persons with intellectual disabilities

Violence, for example physical, psychological, financial and sexual abuse and neglect, exists and is an under-reported problem in caring situations involving adult persons with intellectual disabilities and their caregivers, where both parties can be seen as victims and perpetrators.

To investigate violent situations involving Swedish adult persons with intellectual disabilities and their caregivers in group-dwellings.

A total population-based survey.

A questionnaire, including violence towards adults with intellectual disabilities and violence towards staff members during 1 year, was sent to all staff members (n = 164) from 17 care settings for adults with intellectual disabilities with a response rate of 74%.

Thirty-five per cent of 122 respondents admitted they had been implicated in or witnessed a violent incident towards an adult person with intellectual disabilities and 14% of the staff members admitted they themselves had been the perpetrators. Sixty-one per cent of the staff members described various situations when they were exposed to violence from an adult person with intellectual disabilities. Physical violence was most frequently reported. Most of the aggression occurred in helping situations when persons with intellectual disabilities did not co-operate or when both actors reacted with violence. The violent situations led the staff members to feel powerless and inadequate. In order to cope they discussed with each other or with the manager.

Violence seems to be accepted as a natural part of the daily care for adult persons with intellectual disabilities. Most of the violence is physical and psychological and occurs in close helping situations.

Supportive interventions, i.e. supervision for the staff members and training of communication skills individually or in group for the adults with intellectual disabilities.