The Prevalence of Resident-to-Resident Elder Mistreatment in Nursing Homes.
BACKGROUND
Resident-to-resident elder mistreatment (R-REM) in nursing homes can cause physical and psychological injury and death, yet its prevalence remains unknown.


OBJECTIVE
To estimate the prevalence of physical, verbal, and sexual R-REM in nursing home residents and subgroups.


METHODS
1-month observational prevalence study.


METHODS
5 urban and 5 suburban New York state nursing homes.


METHODS
2011 residents in 10 facilities randomly selected on the basis of size and location; 83% of facilities and 84% of eligible residents participated.


METHODS
R-REM was identified through resident interviews, staff interviews, shift coupons, observation, chart review, and accident or incident reports.


RESULTS
407 of 2011 residents experienced at least 1 R-REM event; the total 1-month prevalence was 20.2% (95% CI, 18.1% to 22.5%). The most common forms were verbal (9.1% [CI, 7.7% to 10.8%]), other (such as invasion of privacy or menacing gestures) (5.3% [CI, 4.4% to 6.4%]), physical (5.2% [CI, 4.1% to 6.5%]), and sexual (0.6% [CI, 0.3% to 1.1%]). Several clinical and contextual factors (for example, lower vs. severe levels of cognitive impairment, residing on a dementia unit, and higher nurse aide caseload) were associated with higher estimated rates of R-REM.


CONCLUSIONS
Most facilities were relatively large. All R-REM cases may not have been detected; resident and staff reporting may be subject to recall bias.


CONCLUSIONS
R-REM in nursing homes is highly prevalent. Verbal R-REM is most common, but physical mistreatment also occurs frequently. Because R-REM can cause injury or death, strategies are urgently needed to better understand its causes so that prevention strategies can be developed.


BACKGROUND
National Institute on Aging.
Mark S
MS
Lachs
Jeanne A
JA
Teresi
Mildred
M
Ramirez
Kimberly
K
van Haitsma
Stephanie
S
Silver
Joseph P
JP
Eimicke
Gabriel
G
Boratgis
Gail
G
Sukha
Jian
J
Kong
Alexandra M
AM
Besas
Maria Reyes
MR
Luna
Karl A
KA
Pillemer
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004552:Elder Abuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006707:Homes for the Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D009518:New York / Q000453:epidemiology; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000066550:Physical Abuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000706:statistics & numerical data