How Common Is Violence in Nursing Homes?

Nursing homes are meant to be safe places for our older loved ones. They deserve to receive quality care and respect in their later years. But that is not always the case. Violent acts can happen in these facilities.

How common is violence in nursing homes? While not every nursing home is plagued by this problem, there are increasing reports of abuse and neglect. Unfortunately, that can leave your loved one to deal with unexpected and unnecessary injuries in a nursing home.

Violence and Nursing Homes

Many people think that violent acts only occur in big cities. However, even a secure facility like a nursing home can be prone to this behavior. To make matters worse, this can be perpetrated by caregivers, other residents, or even visitors. Some of these situations in a nursing home may include:

• Physical abuse that involves hitting, pushing, or improperly restraining a resident.
• Sexual abuse with any non-consensual sexual contact or harassment.
• Verbal abuse that includes threats, insults, or humiliating remarks that degrade a resident’s dignity and well-being.

The National Institute on Aging reports that as many as one in six elderly individuals experience some form of abuse or mistreatment while living in institutional settings each year.

So, who commits these acts? In some cases, it is not the staff, but other residents who are the problem. A study published in the National Library of Medicine found that nearly 20% of nursing home residents reported experiencing some aggression from other residents.

Resident-on-resident violence in nursing homes is often caused by confusion, frustration, or cognitive conditions. Many times, these incidents happen due to misunderstandings.

Unfortunately, this problem is becoming more common. Without the proper support from staff members, these minor conflicts can quickly escalate into serious harm.

Families want to know that their loved ones are safe, but issues like a lack of proper supervision can make that difficult.

Why Does This Happen?

One of the major causes of this violence is staff shortages. Unfortunately, this is a problem throughout the healthcare industry, especially those long-term services.

When nursing homes don’t have enough staff members to meet the needs of their residents, caregivers become overburdened and stressed. This can lead to neglect or even violent outbursts. Sometimes, it can even prevent staff from intervening when violent incidents occur between residents.

Another issue centers around inadequate staff training. These caregivers may not be trained to handle residents with cognitive impairments, such as dementia. Staff members may resort to frustration, physical force, or neglect when they lack the skills.

Additionally, resident behavior plays a part. Elderly individuals with dementia or other mental health conditions may become easily agitated. In turn, that can lead to verbal or physical aggression.

This situation can become violent when multiple residents with behavioral issues are housed together without proper supervision or intervention.

Warning Signs of Potential Violence

Your loved one might be abused in a nursing home, and you don’t even realize it. If these acts are committed by staff, they may try to prevent you from learning the truth. However, you can be vigilant and look for potential red flags.

Of course, any unexplained physical injuries are concerning. Along with that, look for any changes in your loved one’s behavior. If there are sudden changes, you need to question the staff.

Family members should visit their loved ones regularly. You can look for any of these signs. If something seems off, ask questions, report concerns, and advocate for your loved one.

Preventing Problems

While this is a serious problem, some steps can be taken to reduce violence in nursing homes. First, increasing staffing levels can prevent burnout. With that, residents can get the care they need.

Additionally, better training and education are needed. These individuals should be trained to de-escalate conflict. They can also have the tools to manage aggressive behaviors and provide compassionate care to residents with cognitive impairments.

Families also need to stay involved in their loved one’s care. In the unfortunate situation where you suspect abuse, you can report any concerns to the proper authorities.

While the exact number of violent acts in nursing homes is hard to pinpoint, many studies show that abuse, neglect, and aggression are common issues that affect residents.

It is up to you as a family member to learn how to protect your loved ones in a nursing home.

At My Nursing Home Abuse Guide, we provide you with the resources to take action and protect your loved one.