The Problem of Physical and Verbal Abuse in Different Nursing Homes

Physical and verbal abuse has become a major problem in different nursing homes. Today’s elderly people depends on their workers to take care of them and treat them with equality. Adults, who are older than 60 and who lives at home are in risk of these critical conditions. Nurses or the workers should be aware of everyone’s physical and mental health in these different nursing homes, however they tend to neglect their patients due to their disabilities. Nurses should be able to minimize their devastating effects on abuse based on their understandings of their patients needs and comfort as an elderly person.

To fix abuse in nursing homes, we all need to report any abuses that we know has happened and have a better resolution toward these issues. Every woman, man, and even child deserves to be treated with reverence and caring. Individuals from all ages including elderly people, deserves to be protected from harm by caregivers and allowed to live their life with happiness and peace.

Hypothesis

Over 40 to 50% of nursing homes contribute to physical and verbal abuse to elderly people due to their disabilities. Prescription Abuse Seen in the U.S. Nursing Homes Nursing homes today are making elderly people become sedated with drugs that are not needed toward their physical or mental health. As elderly patients with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are sedated with the antipsychotic drug that helps keep them under control or very calm. “Nearly 30% of the total nursing-home population are receiving antipsychotic drugs.

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In a practice known as “off label’ use of prescription drugs, patients can get these powerful medicines whether they are psychotic or not” (p. A47).

This quote shows us how many different nursing homes are mentally abusing elderly patients with drugs that are not beneficial to them and which will eventually cause people to avoid their diseases (Dementia and Alzheimer’s). When patients are given a drug that isn’t related or beneficial to their specific disease, then they will tend to increase their high chances of death. When I volunteered at different nursing homes, I currently observe how each worker is caring and directing each of their patients. As observing each of these nursing homes, I tend to realize that different workers are being aggressively toward their patients based on them being unable to mentally understand or comprehend what they are trying to convey to them.

However, due to the workers being frustrated toward their patients, they start to rely on different drugs to maintain their patients physical and mental health. We need to start observing different nursing homes and the ways their workers act toward their patients
medical and mental health issues. Unreported abuse found at nursing homes Throughout our society, there are many different nursing homes that are facing abuse toward their patients. However, the nursing homes are being aware of these different mental or physical abuse and isn’t being reported to the government. This is a major issue in our society because if we don’t report these violent and harsh issues relating to elderly people then how will this issue stop and be resolved. Unreported abuse found in nursing homes is becoming a major issue in our society because the workers that are being reported for this violence is deciding to work at a different nursing home in a different state. Many managers that work in a nursing home tend to become reluctant to report an incident because they fear that reporting issues will cause “adverse publicity”.

Many patient’s relatives report abuses but however the worker that they report starts to just work at another nursing home out of state. These issues help prove that even though abuse is happening at different nursing homes that the workers that are doing the abuse can just apply at another nursing home without any issues and precautions. “More than 30% of the nation’s nursing homes have been cited by state inspectors for violations that harmed residents or placed them in immediate jeopardy” (Pear p.25). According to Pear’s quote, this issue relates to my hypothesis because it states how abuse is being seen in different nursing homes, however the managers and patients are too nervous to proclaim these issues because they are not being any changes toward their specific abuse that is happening. One of the bigBgest issues in today’s society is how people are afraid to state and follow their opinions and what is simply right. For instance, many different people fear the issue on reporting different abuses in nursing homes based on the qualification of other issues being reported and not having an outcome toward them.

The Drive for Quality Care in U.S. Nursing Homes in the Era of the Prospective System According to Hughes, Carmel, and Lapane, (2002): The quality of nursing home care has often given rise to concern from many interested stakeholders. In the US, this has led to the
implementation of a major legislative framework in the form of the Nursing Home Reform Act, which sought to improve the quality of care through regulation and inspections” (p. 623). Researcher has shown that certain elements of nursing homes have been improved
however there are much remains to be done.

Major pressure is now being held at different nursing homes through the introduction of a prospective payment program, which sets limits on repayment for services dealing with Medicare. Studies have shown that it will be very
difficult in accessing nursing homes care for patients and that it their will be initialassessments suggested  for patients that are being admitted to a nursing home. This issue will become a major effect for patients who require expensive drug therapy. Although the Nursing Home Reform Act seeks to drive forward the quality agenda in nursing home care, research is urgently required to evaluate the impact of the PPS which may force this healthcare sector to emphasize reducing costs at the expense of residents’ needs.

Conclusion

In conclusion, elderly abuse is a significant problem in the United States and often goes around unreported or unrecognized. Elderly abuse can be physical, mental, emotional, and sexual. The more knowledge health care providers have, the more likely they are to establish strategies for abuse prevention and management. No matter how minor or severe the abuse, nurses have a duty to assess elderly patients according to recommended protocols and report suspected abuse to designated. In my research, I have learned that nursing homes have
different protocols and rules to follow that helps prevent abuse. However, I learned that many different workers have another opportunity to work at a different nursing home even though they have been reported for abuse. Abuse in nursing homes can be solved by reporting the
issue and being able to leam about different institutions that has a positive effect on their patient’s life. My hypothesis is accepted because as shown in my research more than 30% of nursing homes are contributed to physical or mental abuse.

Works Cited

1. Lagonda, Lucette (2007). Prescription abuse seen in the U.S. nursing homes. The Wall Street Eastern Edition, pp. Al
   Pear, R (2002). Unreported abuse found at nursing homes. New York Times, p.25
2. Hughes, C., & Lapane, K. (2002). The Drive for Quality Care in US Nursing Homes in the Era of the Prospective Payment System. Drugs & Aging. p.623