Developed by the Canadian Nurses Association and the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario
Adapted for use by [name of PEACE site]
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MODULE 1:
UNDERSTANDING
ELDER ABUSE
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Promoting Awareness of Elder Abuse in
Long-Term Care
• Two-year national project between Canadian Nurses Association and the
Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario from April 2010 – March 2012
• A series of education sessions implemented in 10 PEACE Sites across
Canada
• Topics included are recognizing elder abuse; when and how to report
elder abuse; how to intervene; and what you can do to prevent elder
abuse
• Resources and materials on NurseONE
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Objectives
By the end of this module, the learner will:
1. Understand why elder abuse is an important issue
2. Describe the [name of home] mission, vision, values,
and policy as it relates to elder abuse
3. Define elder abuse and the types of elder abuse
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Abuse of Older Adults: What is it?
Any action, or lack of action, by someone in
a relationship of trust that results in harm
or distress to an older person.
National Seniors Council, 2008
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Abuse of Older Adults is an issue of
growing importance in Canada
• Seniors are the fastest growing age group in Canada;
age group most likely to live in a long term care
setting
• 20-30% of seniors will live in a long term care setting
during their lifetime
• People coming into long term care are older, frailer
and have increasingly complex needs
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Why Elder Abuse remains an important issue
• Frontline staff members in long term care witness
elder abuse at some point in their career
• Ethical and professional practice issues
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What is important to us?
• Insert your mission, vision, and values here
• Connect to the importance of this project
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Why does elder abuse happen?
• Residents more dependent or have more complex
needs
• Residents have difficulty communicating
• Residents are socially isolated: medical condition
or loss of friends or family
• Weaker ties between generations
• Stress or frustration in the workplace
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What are we already doing or have in
place to prevent elder abuse?
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Types of elder abuse
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Physical
Emotional
Neglect
Sexual
Financial
Violation of rights
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Physical Abuse
Any act of violence or
rough behaviour
that may or may not
result in physical
injury
but causes physical
discomfort or pain
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Physical Abuse can be:
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Pushing
Shoving
Hitting
Slapping
Poking
Pulling hair
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Biting
Pinching
Spitting
Environmental
restraints
• Medications
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Emotional Abuse
Any action, verbal
or non-verbal,
which lessens a
resident’s sense
of identity,
dignity and self
worth
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Emotional Abuse can be:
• not considering a resident’s wishes
• not respecting a resident’s belongings
• speaking in a different language in front of a
resident
• inappropriate control of activities
• treating a resident like a child
• bullying
• name-calling
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Neglect
Not meeting the basic needs of the resident
Two types:
1. Active: intentionally not meeting the basic needs of
the resident
2. Passive: unintentionally not meeting the basic needs
of the resident
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Neglect can Violate a Person’s Dignity:
• ‘Not being seen’:
• Ignoring Residents
• Removing or switching off ‘call’ devices
• Intentionally dissatisfying a Resident’s
wishes (e.g. preferred radio station choice)
• Isolating Residents
(Buzgova & Ivanova, 2011)
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Neglect can be:
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Withholding care or medical attention
Leaving a resident in an unsafe place
Over or under medicating
Not providing food or liquids
Not providing proper clothing or hygiene
Untreated bedsores
Abandonment
Restraining the resident inappropriately
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Sexual Abuse
Any sexual behaviour without the resident’s
full knowledge and consent
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Sexual Abuse can be:
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Unwanted touching, kissing and fondling
Making sexual remarks and/or suggestions
Sexual contact without consent
Lack of personal privacy
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Financial Abuse
Misuse of a resident’s
money, property or
funds, resulting in
financial or personal
gain for the abuser
and/or a financial or
personal loss for the
resident
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Financial Abuse can be:
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Taking things
Unpaid bills
Lack of spending money
Undue pressure
Persuasion to give up control of finances
Tricked into signing something not understood
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Violation of Rights
The denial of a resident’s rights as an adult, including
legal rights
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Violation of Rights can be:
• Interfering with or opening a resident’s mail
• Withholding information
• Not letting the resident go out and/or socialize,
if able
• Denying privacy, visitors, phone calls
• Denying of religious worship or spiritual
practice
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Key Points
• Many types of elder abuse
• Elder abuse occurs in long term care
• Promote an abuse free environment
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Questions?
What’s Next?
Module 1: Understanding Elder Abuse
Module 2: Recognizing Elder Abuse
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Resources
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