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Why do we have to talk about this sad subject? It is real, and it won’t
just disappear because we want it to go away. There has been a lot of talk
about nursing home abuse in the media, so let’s take a closer look at what
it is, and how to deal with it. Physical abuse is hitting, slapping, kicking, pinching or beating.
Neglect is a form of physical abuse, involving depriving a person of
needed medical treatment or care, or failure to provide the basics of
food, clothing or hygiene. Specific to nursing homes, physical abuse
includes leaving a person in urine or feces, isolation persons in their
rooms, or failing to answer call lights. Verbal Abuse is the use of statements that criticize, sneer at or
degrade the person. Verbal abuse includes swearing or unkind gestures. Involuntary seclusion is confining or locking up a person in a
restricted space. Financial abuse is the use of an elderly person’s money by another
person. Mental abuse includes threats and inducing fear in an elderly person of
punishment, humiliation, harassment, or deprivation of the necessities of
life. Sexual abuse includes harassment about sex or forcing a person to
perform sexual acts out of fear of punishment. How do we stop these forms of abuse? First, by learning what abuse is,
and watching for signs of it. Abuse is against both Federal and State
laws, and must be reported if it is suspected. Sometimes it is difficult
to help abused elderly people, and the victim of abuse may not want it
reported, fear they will not be believed, or think that the care they are
receiving is better than no care at all. There are Federal and State laws in place that provide safeguards.
Nursing homes must do background checks, and sometimes require
fingerprinting, to avoid hiring anyone convicted of abuse or neglect.
Criminal background checks are also a part of the licensing process for
nurses, and certification for nurse’s aides. References and work histories
are also carefully checked. Guidelines are strictly adhered to when abuse
is suspected or reported. And perhaps most importantly of all, continuing
education should be provided by the nursing home to its staff on a regular
basis on the identification and reporting of all forms of abuse, and on
how to deal with difficult patients or potentially violent situations in
the workplace. |
