Violence against staff working in long-term care facilities — including physical assault, verbal abuse and sexual harassment — has become “normalized,” according to a study by Canadian researchers.
Stirling University and Windsor University experts conducted group interviews with nearly 60 workers across seven facilities in Ontario. In the study, published in New Solutions, they found that violence is a “significant” risk factor in skilled care, with many incidents going unreported for fear of reprisals. Their research also showed that violence in nursing homes often is caused by resident fear, confusion and agitation, as well as understaffing, inappropriate resident placement and a lack of time for social and emotional care.
“There needs to be an increase in staffing levels to ensure the adequate relational care for long-term care residents,” said study co-author James Brophy, Ph.D., an adjunct professor at the University of Windsor, who has proposed several solutions to improve the conditions of staff and residents in long-term care facilities. “There is also a need for immediate legal and regulatory measures that would create violence-free facilities for everyone.”
From the June 6, 2019 Issue of McKnight's Long-Term Care News
