Conference paper
CONTRASTING VANTAGE POINTS BETWEEN CAREGIVERS AND RESIDENTS ON THE PERCEPTION OF ELDER ABUSE AND NEGLECT DURING LONG-TERM CARE
Marijana Neuberg
; University Centre Varaždin, University North, Varaždin, Croatia
Tomislav Meštrović
; Polyclinic "Dr. Zora Profozić", Zagreb, Croatia
Rosana Ribić
; University Centre Varaždin, University North, Varaždin, Croatia
Marin Šubarić
; University Centre Varaždin, University North, Varaždin, Croatia
Irena Canjuga
; University Centre Varaždin, University North, Varaždin, Croatia
Goran Kozina
; University Centre Varaždin, University North, Varaždin, Croatia
Abstract
Background: Elder abuse and neglect can be defined as refusing or failing to fulfil a caregiver's obligation to meet the needs of
elderly individuals in order to punish or hurt them. We aimed to explore perceptions of elder mistreatment of both caregivers and
residents during long-term care, and highlight significant differences in the overall mistreatment perception regarding sociodemographic
variables, as well as the type of care facility.
Subjects and methods: The study involved 171 caregivers and 245 elderly individuals in stationary facilities. Two structured
questionnaires were used - one for caregivers and the other for institutionalized elderly residents, whose initial validation
concerning question and factor selection has been based upon exploratory factor analysis and discriminant validity. Parametric and
nonparametric tests were employed in the statistical analysis, and statistical significance was set at p<0.05 (two-sided).
Results: We found significant differences in the perception of elder abuse and neglect between caregivers and elderly residents.
More specifically, caregivers tend to recognize unnecessary or inappropriate medical/care procedures as indicators of elder
mistreatment, while the elderly residents emphasize the removal of their personal belongings and inappropriate physical contact.
According to the care facility, residents reported abuse/neglect more frequently in extended care units (21.4%), compared to the
county-owned nursing home (11.4%) and private nursing home (12.1%) (p=0.001). Similarly, caregivers reported abuse/neglect
more frequently in extended care units (75.4%), in comparison to county-owned nursing home (24.6%) and private nursing home
(0%) (p=0.039). Shift work was also a significant predictor, as the morning nursing staff perceived abuse/neglect more frequently
(p=0.011).
Conclusions: This study has shown that residents and caregivers have contrasting vantage points in relation to elder
abuse/neglect perception, which underlines the need for evidence-based standardization of procedures to prevent any type of
elder mistreatment.
Keywords
elder abuse and neglect; elder mistreatment; nursing home; long-term care; nursing
Hrčak ID:
263456
URI
Publication date:
4.9.2019.
Visits: 458 *