Presentation: Elder Abuse in Aged Care Facilities - Risk Management

This presentation addresses the critical issue of elder abuse within aged care facilities, focusing on the risks faced by both elderly residents and healthcare workers. It begins by defining elder abuse and presenting statistical data highlighting its prevalence. The presentation then delves into the associated risks, including the potential for workers to be wrongly accused of mistreatment. It explores the underlying reasons for abuse within aged care settings, such as staffing problems and inadequate care, and identifies key signs of abuse that healthcare workers should be aware of. The presentation offers practical advice for healthcare workers, including how to conduct patient interviews and comprehensive geriatric assessments to avoid wrongful accusations. It emphasizes the importance of compulsory reporting procedures and suggests various measures to control and prevent elder abuse, such as promoting support groups and community programs. The presentation concludes with references in APA format, providing a comprehensive overview of the issue and practical solutions for the aged care environment.

Presentation on Elder Abuse in Aged Care
Facilities; A Major Risk for Aged-Care Workers
Aged Care Abuse

Elder Abuse
Elder abuse is a single or repeated act or a absence of
suitable action in any relation where there is an
anticipation of confidence that causes an elderly person
damage or distress. This form of violence violates human
rights and involves physical, sexual, mental, psychological
and financial abuse; abuse of material property;
renunciation; negligence; severe loss of dignity and respect
("Elder abuse", 2019).
Statistics by WHO, have been given on the table in the
next slide.

Associated risks
Aged care workers are at a risk of being accused of
mistreatment or abuse
Another risk included for the worker is of being wrongly
accused of abuse Monod, (2013).
Aged people do not take any kind of criticism or instructions
very positively, and might put up regular fights.

Reasons for Abuse in an Aged Care
Facility
Problem with staffing: Work-related stress, insufficient training,
psychological problems
Inadequate provision of individual care provided by the staff
Poor communication skills and aggressiveness on the part of the staff
Accident prone facility or lack of basic privacy
Organizational policies or shortage of staff

Signs for Healthcare Workers to Identify
Abuse in an Elderly Patient
Delay in reporting injury or illness by elderly patient
Vague or implausible explanation given for ill-health
Variation in case history as given by patient and the caregiver (Truong,
Burnes, Alaggia, Elman & Rosen, 2019)
Worsened chronic condition and frequent visit to emergency department
Laboratory findings differ from history explained by patient
Depleting functional ability of patient without any valid reason

Chances of Being Wrongly Accused
The healthcare worker can be wrongly accused of patient even when he
is not guilty
The reasons are many
The patient can be in an unstable state of mind to accuse the worker
Overtly drugged patients can accuse some workers
Some patients are extra finicky
The healthcare worker does not enjoy a good reputation
The accused worker is mistaken in place of actual wrongdoer

Things Healthcare Workers Should Consider
While Examining the Patient
Try to interview the patient alone (Ernst & Maschi, 2018).
Interview the suspected abuser, alone
Pay close attention to behavior of patient and the suspected abuser (Monod, 2013)
Conduct a comprehensive geriatric assessment
Consider the medical, functional and other social factors
Document the patient’s formal and informal social network
Healthcare workers can avoid being accused of abuse by following the
procedure

Compulsory Reporting for Aged Care
Working Staff
To avoid being accused of abuse, it is important to follow correct reporting
procedure
 Believe that abuse of any person is unacceptable
Compulsory reporting is primary aspects of nursing and medical care Marshall, &
Hale, (2018).
 Report any incident of suspicion of patient abuse
The person to whom you report is legally bound to investigate the incident
Delay in reporting can put you under risk of helping the offender

Measures That Can be Taken to Control
Elder Abuse
Recruiting elder to serve visitors/companions to other isolated elder people
Creating and promoting support group
Setting and communicating community programs
Building a strong social network among the elderly
Promoting the idea of ‘self-help’ among the elderly
Offer services related to substance abuse and mental health
The above measures can help health-workers avoid being wrongly
accused