Elder Abuse in Connecticut's Nursing Homes

• NCJ Number: 205575
• Journal: Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect Volume: 15 Issue: 1 Dated: 2003 Pages: 19-42
• Author(s): Priscilla D. Allen Ph.D.; Kathy Kellett M.A.; Cynthia Gruman Ph.D.
• Date Published: 2003
• Length: 24 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined the abuse and neglect concerns of Connecticut nursing home residents by drawing data from the Connecticut Ombudsman Reporting System.

Abstract

The fastest growing American population includes adults who are aged 75 years or older; many of these older adults depend on caregivers and many are residents of nursing homes. Media and public concern have focused on the abuse of older adults perpetrated by caregivers either in a private home or nursing home. The purpose of the current study was to examine abuse and neglect concerns from the perspective of nursing home residents and to redefine elder abuse as an issue of care versus an issue of rights. A total of 3,443 complaints regarding nursing home abuses were reported between July 1998 and July 2000 using the Connecticut Ombudsman Reporting System. Related data from a comprehensive nursing home file containing pertinent information on Connecticut’s 261 nursing homes were combined with the Ombudsman data. Analysis focused on the abuse complaint subcategories of abuse, gross neglect, and exploitation (n = 269), as well as care-related complaints (n = 791). Results of statistical analyses, including multiple linear regression, indicated that care complaints comprised 69 percent of all complaints lodged against Connecticut’s nursing homes. Almost half of the care complaints regarded either (1) care plans not being followed (17 percent); (2) unanswered call lights (16 percent); and (3) personal hygiene problems (14 percent). In terms of abuse complaints, 47 percent of all Connecticut nursing home complaints involved one or more accounts of abuse. Physical abuse was reported in 41 percent of complaints; gross neglect totaled 19 percent of complaints, and verbal abuse accounted for another 19 percent of abuse complaints. Future studies may focus on understanding organizational facility characteristics that may be helpful in leading to an understanding of abuse and care issues in residential facilities. Limitations of the current research include problems of generalizability beyond the State of Connecticut. Tables, references