Elder Abuse Training

McKnight’s reported on a recent study published in BMC Public Health which found that CNAs in residential care facilities often have a low understanding of Elder Abuse. This is from a lack of training and management ‘s failure to make it a priority. Many CNAs may be able to identify most physical abuse, they frequently fail to recognize other forms of it, such as neglect, financial exploitation, and sexual abuse.

One CNA stated, “I don’t think it’s a big deal, as long as you don’t confront them, there’s no abuse, you can’t just hit them.”

There was a study conducted across 15 different facilities in Hunan Province, China, which revealed that 70% of older adults in care facilities had experienced abuse in 2021. Researchers recommended implementing early training in staff orientation to define all forms of abuse, rather than just physical abuse.

They also emphasize the importance of supporting caregiver well-being through initiatives like childcare assistance and wellness programs. This is important because stress and burnout can often increase the risk of abuse. The study finally suggested that enhancing training methods with interactive tools such as
case studies and Q&A sessions to promote empathy and professionalism. These strategies aim to help care facilities create safer environments by better equipping staff to identify and prevent elder abuse.