Care Home Abuse

Some of the most vulnerable people in our society live in care homes. Whilst many require additional support, residents sometimes end up facing maltreatment from staff members and even loved ones.

Healthcare providers have a legal duty to identify, prevent, and eliminate care home abuse. Failure to follow your responsibilities could lead to facing compensation, business closure, and even imprisonment.

In this guide, we’ll look at what care home abuse is, different examples of it, and how to prevent such harm affecting your residents.

What is care home abuse?

Care home abuse is when a person, living under residential care, is subject to harm from healthcare staff. People living in nursing homes are considered as vulnerable people. They’re often fully reliant on others, like family members or carers, to function.

It can be hard to spot signs of care home abuse. However, whether it was intended or not, employers have a legal duty to protect their residents. This includes preventing maltreatment from the get-go. If ignored, it could result in trauma, ill-health, and even fatalities.

Are there different types of care home abuse?

Unfortunately, there are numerous abusive forms found in care home. It can derive from a mix of understaffing, unsuitable training, and work-related burnout. These frustrations then directed at vulnerable people, like residents. Let’s look at different types of care home abuse:

Physical abuse

Physical abuse is one of the most common forms of maltreatment found in the healthcare system. Residents suffer from injuries like cuts, bruises, bedsores, and even broken bones. These occur when a person is forcibly restrained or moved.

Signs for physical abuse aren’t always visible to the naked eye. Carers may have to rely on behavioural patterns to uncover maltreatment. For example, the resident might seem less sociable than normal.

Psychological abuse

Psychological abuse is a little more difficult to spot compared to physical abuse. Carers fully rely on reading body language and habits. Residents might seem quieter, less sociable, and easily startled.

Other signals include speaking incoherently, avoiding eye-contact, and rocking whilst sitting. Carers should document any behavioural changes. Once a resident or their family members have raised concerns, employers should seek professional guidance on how to help them.

Sexual abuse

Unfortunately, sexual abuse does happen in care homes. This is seen with the most vulnerable residents like females, elderly, and those with mental capability issues.

Just like psychological abuse, sexual abuse can be hard to spot. You might see bruises or abrasions around the resident’s breasts or genital areas whilst tending to them. If this is the case, you must take appropriate reporting procedures, like contacting the police.

Sexual abuse isn’t just physical; it can include verbal abuse or sexual harassment. Whichever form it takes, employers are legally obliged to protect their residents from such harm.

Financial abuse

It’s common to hear care home residents becoming victim to financially-related crime, like theft, blackmail, and fraud. They might have money, jewellery, possessions, and even personal information stolen.

Signs of financial abuse is seen through evidence of unexpected expenditures. Other signs are if residents have ‘lost’ their cheque-books or bank cards. Carers can ask a resident’s family members to keep a record on spending habits to spot any signs of financial abuse.

Neglect

Whilst this might seem less weighty than the others, neglect is a serious form of care home abuse. Sometimes, residents are left without regular food, drink, medicine, and hygiene support. Any of these may result in dehydration, malnutrition, and ill-health.

Sick residents who don’t receive medical help on time could face life-threatening illnesses. Other times, they’re left for hours, even days, in isolation. Nursing home neglect like this causes serious psychological damage, resulting in residents becoming reclusive.

What is the law on care home negligence?

The main law that applies to care homes comes under the Care Act 2014. The bill outlines the laws on safeguarding adults. Healthcare providers must ensure their business remains compliant with the act, as well as the Care Quality Commission (CQC) guidance.

The CQC state healthcare providers must ensure:

1. They do not provide unsafe care or treatment; or put people who use your service at avoidable risk of harm.
2. They safeguard people from abuse, improper treatment, or neglect.

Residents who face negligence from their healthcare providers can claim compensation for their maltreatment. If their case proves successful, they could receive unlimited compensation. Employers could face penalty fines, business closure, and even imprisonment.

How to prevent abuse and neglect in elderly care homes

All healthcare providers have a legal duty to protect and safeguard their residents, especially vulnerable people. Any sign of nursing home negligence could lead to traumatic events for them and the business.

Let’s look at ways to prevent care home neglect and abuse within your business:

Introduce a reporting system

The first step healthcare providers should take is introducing a reporting system. This private, confidential process involves documenting incidents from start to end. Employers may be required to inform the right authorities during certain cases, like the police.

Staff must report neglect in care homes without worrying about consequences to their job. These incidents can include all kinds of private matters for the resident. So, keep all information properly in compliance with:

• The Data Protection Act (1998).
• The General Data Protection Regulations 2016.

Conduct risk assessments

The next step involves conducting a risk assessment for your care systems. These include looking at working conditions, equipment, and procedures. All of these should emulate proper health and safety compliance.

Ask residents about their wellbeing within the residential home. Document any changes you may need to make to their living conditions. For example, offering better resting equipment, like improving their beds or sofas.

Healthcare providers must also comply with Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) guidelines on protecting residents (and staff) from common risks.

Be mindful of language and misconceptions

It’s crucial for healthcare providers to be aware of the language used when abuse occurs. For example, sexual assault cases are often played down which is unacceptable.

Teach staff how to use appropriate language when it comes to maltreatment. Using the wrong words can change or minimise the seriousness of the assault. Victims are then left suffering from the incident, as well as dealing with inadequate outcomes.

It’s especially important to report cases when necessary – particularly with sexual assault. All these cases should be reported to the police, as well as any other relevant authorities.

Deal with staffing issues

Nursing home neglect and abuse often occurs due to personal reasons. Carers end up venting their frustrations and anger onto residents – which is unacceptable.

Healthcare providers must get to the root as the why their staff are acting this way. For example, they could be feeling overworked due to staff shortages. Or they could believe they’re underpaid for the number of hours they’re working.

Employers must ensure their staff are working in a safe and proper manner. That means working within legal hours, conditions, and regulations. Carers should receive a proper work-life balance, as this helps them turn off from their work duties in a healthy manner.

Get expert advice on preventing care home abuse with Peninsula

Neglect and abuse have no space in the workplace – particularly in places like care homes. With the right rulings and procedures, you’ll be able to ensure your staff are performing their caring duties appropriately.

Peninsula provides expert advice on preventing care home abuse. We offer 24-hour H&S advice – ensuring your carers are working properly with vulnerable people.

Want to find out more? Contact us on 0800 028 2420 and book a free consultation with one of our Health and Safety consultants today.