Nursing Home Abuse
"While the traditional view of elder abuse in nursing homes involves staff harming residents, new research suggests residents may have more to fear from their peers..."
Read the full article at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19712822/from/ET/
It's about time someone pays attention to this under-reported type of abuse!
My father has been a victim of this type of attack at least 4 times (that we know of - the staff doesn't like to admit to such things).
He resides on an Alzheimer's unit and is non-ambulatory. The problem occurs with patients who are still able to ambulate but are not monitored properly.
I don't hold the attacker responsible, but I do hold the nursing home staff and administration 100% responsible for not meeting the needs of these patients.
They MUST be monitored at all times. Period.
By the way, even upon state investigations I was told that there was "not enough evidence to support a claim". That means, we can't prove that your father was attacked, so there's nothing we can do.
No one cares.
If this type of abuse was occuring in a daycare setting with children, the public would be outraged.
Instead, it's happening on a dementia ward. And the consensus is "Oh, well...they do that type of thing because they are demented".
No. They "do that type of thing" because their needs are not being met and they are not being monitored.
So, those who are inclined to do so strike out and attack others.
It is frustrating because I believe it happens more that people realize.
Hopefully with more attention payed towards this problem, the nursing homes will be held accountable for their neglect.