News

Abuse of residents in residential and nursing homes for older people accounts for more than 20 per cent of calls to Action on Elder Abuse's help line, yet less than 5 per cent of older people live in these settings. Action on Elder Abuse recommends the following:

DO

• Ensure that your home has policies and procedures on elder abuse, and that your staff are trained in how to put them into practice.
• Make residents and relatives aware of the home's complaints procedure.
• Ensure that case reviews consider any risk of elder abuse.
• Be aware of and record possible signs of abuse, such as unexplained wounds or uncharacteristic mood changes.
• Make details of Action on Elder Abuse's free helpline available to residents, staff, relatives and visitors.

DON'T

• Place loyalty to colleagues above the needs of residents.
• Place rules and regimes, such as waking times, above the needs of residents.
• Ignore your feelings if you suspect abuse - get facts to support them.
• Allow residents to lose their independence.
• Prevent residents expressing their real feelings about the home.

Contact : Action on Elder Abuse, Astral House, 1268 London Road, London SW16 4ER tel 0181-764 7648