Nurses’ perspectives on responding to elder abuse in a hospital setting

Abstract

BackgroundNurses caring for hospitalised older people are well situated to identify and respond to elder abuse. However, little is known about how nurses working in acute and subacute care recognise and respond to suspected abuse. AimThe project team aimed to explore how nurses detect, assess and respond to elder abuse as part of a quality improvement activity to develop a model of care to address elder abuse. MethodFocus group interviews were conducted with ward nurses and nurse educators (n = 19) working in both acute and subacute care settings in a tertiary teaching hospital. Transcribed interviews were coded and analysed thematically. FindingsPrimary themes identified included: perceived flags for elder abuse; the importance of relationship building to elicit disclosures; the challenges involved in substantiating abuse; and dealing with uncertain outcomes. DiscussionDifficulties encountered in substantiating abuse were often compounded by organisational factors and time constraints. Having the time to build a relationship with the older person enabled a more comprehensive assessment of risk factors, but for those working in fast-paced wards this was not always possible. ConclusionEffective responses to elder abuse require an organisational culture that recognises the importance of a relationship-based model of care.