Call to Action: Nursing Home Abuse

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Call to Action:  Edlery Abuse and Neglect in Nursing Homes During a Pandemic

   

Elder abuse in nursing homes is a major problem in our society.  This is defined as residents of long-term care facilities suffering from physical, psychological, or emotional harm as a result of the lack of care or intentional acts of abuse of their caregivers.  “24.3% of residents experienced at least one instance of physical abuse while in a nursing home.”   This percentage has only increased over the years when it comes to physical abuse as more and more elders are checked into nursing homes as opposed to living out their final years at a relatives house.  Elderly abuse does not necessarily even cover the emotional, verbal and even abuse that occurs.  In some cases elderly people can’t speak for themselves.  Something must be done to spread awareness on this issue.  

The reason that this problem needs to be addressed is to help decrease and eradicate altogether the abuse of the elderly. More often than not people are paying upwards of $400 a day for their loved one to stay at a facility.  Over 10,000 residents report abuse.  “Women are more likely to be abused than men. In fact, the NCVC found that 66% of elder abuse victims were women.”    One article also states that, “in five states where nursing home inspectors did investigate and substantiate cases of abuse, "97% of those had not been reported to local law enforcement as required.”    

How can things be improved?  In many cases Medicare is at fault because they could have analyzed the medical records for evidence of abuse, but failed to report it.    In addition, more security cameras could be installed.  Another idea would be to have upper management make unexpected pop-ins at nursing homes without warning.  Lastly, having one-on-one interviews with residents that are coherent about their experience can help get an honest answer about the condition at the nursing home. To help create unbiased answers, the interviews would take place in a private room away from nursing home staff so as to not alter their response for fear of being in trouble.         


 

       

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