Zlorabe starostnikov na primeru doma za starejše
Elder abuse in old people's homes

slovenian

2013

volume 47, issue 4

abuse   elderly   healthcare personnel   violence

Zbornica zdravstvene in babiške nege Slovenije - Zveza strokovnih društev medicinskih sester, babic in zdravstvenih tehnikov Slovenije
(Obvezni izvod spletne publikacije)

Introduction: Abuse and violence are acts that hurt another person and are done against her/his will. The objective of this survey was to present the problem of elder abuse and to determine the level of awareness and knowledge of the issue among the healthcare providers. Methods: For this study, a descriptive research method was employed. The data were obtained through a structured questionnaire designed on the basis of the relevant literature review. The research was conducted among employees in the Home for the elderly Bor at Črni vrh above Idrija in 2010. Results: The study sample included 30 nursing care providers, 24 female and 6 male. The majority of respondents (23) were qualified nursing aids or possess the fifth level of vocational health education. Most of the respondents were aware of the elder physical, mental and sexual abuse (n = 28). The most common victims of abuse are dementia patients (n = 26) and the residents who are largely immobile (n = 24), and the most common perpetrators of abuse are the victims' room-mates orother fellow residents (n = 27). The abuses identified occurred mostly in the victims' rooms, during the afternoon of weekdays (n = 22). A negligible percentage (2.5 %) of the employees who witnessed the acts of violence, discussed the incident with the victim. The need to confer about the issue of abuse and violence in the workplace with head nurses was acknowledged by 25 respondents while the remaining five did not express any interest in gaining additional knowledge on abuse and violence inflicted upon the elders. Discussion and conclusion: In order to prevent and suppress elder abuse and violence, it is imperative that both professionals and lay persons become more aware of the scope and issues surrounding this sensitive and extremely complex problem. The most common victims of abuse are people with dementia as well as immobile and totally dependent residents. The perpetrators of abuse are most often their fellow home residents. Most of the respondents recognize the importance of additioal education to strengthen their capacity to identify, respond to and minimise the risks of elder abuse.

08.05.2014