Elder abuse and mistreatment in residential settings

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Social Sciences
• Ethics in Healthcare

Background:

• Older adults in residential settings deserve respectful, ethically-grounded care.
• Elder abuse, encompassing various forms, poses a significant threat to well-being.
• Understanding lived experiences is crucial for effective prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore and describe the lived experiences of elder abuse from both employee and client perspectives.
• To identify the primary forms and underlying causes of elder abuse in residential care facilities.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative phenomenological approach.
• In-depth interviews with 26 employees, 20 residents, and 2 managers.
• Analysis of 11 official elder abuse complaints from 2003-2007.

Main Results:

• Identified five key forms of elder abuse: rights violation, financial abuse, psychological abuse, physical abuse, and neglect.
• Determined that causes of elder abuse are linked to institutional, employee, and client characteristics.
• Highlighted the critical role of organizational culture and ethical principles in preventing abuse.

Conclusions:

• Residential settings require robust preventive policies focusing on rights protection and abuse supervision.
• Fostering an organizational culture rooted in ethical principles is essential for safeguarding elderly residents.
• Addressing institutional, employee, and client factors is vital for comprehensive elder abuse prevention.