District nurses lack training on abuse

The Community and District Nursing Association (CDNA) is calling
for mandatory training on the abuse of older people after 88 per
cent of nurses revealed they had encountered forms of abuse.

The research, after a survey of 5,000 senior nurses, shows that,
although 88 per cent of district and community nurses have come
across a form of elder abuse, only 35 per cent felt equipped to
deal with it.

Jennie Potter, a family abuse specialist at the association, said:
“No one knows what goes on behind closed doors. The CDNA is calling
for mandatory training for all those in the nursing profession, in
prevention, recognition and the management of elder abuse.”

Only 44 per cent of nurses questioned had received training in
dealing with elder abuse, and the CDNA has launched a document for
nurses on dealing with the problem.

Gary FitzGerald, chief executive of charity Action on Elder Abuse,
added: “It’s staggering to think that there is a professional
sector of the social care workforce which is not sufficiently
supported or equipped in this crucial aspect of its work.”

– Responding to Elder Abuse by the Community and District
Nursing Association from www.cdna.tvu.ac.uk