Grant: Project Grant

Mounting anecdotal evidence suggests that sexual, material and physical conflict between long-term care (LTC) residents is a large and pervasive problem that can often be fatal. This proposed project examines resident-to-resident abuse (RRA) in long-term care (LTC). Despite projections that over half a million Canadians will require LTC by 2031, there is a conspicuous lack of research on the extent and types of RRA in LTC (physical, verbal sexual, material), that often contributes to the challenges of prevention and intervention. In Canada, preliminary estimates of reported abuse cases in LTC indicated that the total number of incidents was 6,455 in 2011 representing 28% of all abuse cases. In the same study, 56% of cases of abuse in Ontario LTC were attributable to RRA. Because there is no real prevalence for RRA in Ontario, the overarching goal of this research is to establish the occurrence for RRA in LTC. Furthermore, a major provincial task force in Ontario found that of the 2,773 elder abuse critical incidents reported to the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-term Care, 57% of the events represented RRA while 33% of incidents were staff abuse or neglect of residents. Media coverage regularly documents serious assaults and even homicides of LTC residents sustained at the hands of other residents. Although some data across all of the provinces exists, a national picture with respect to RRA in LTC has yet to be established. Multiple methods will include a pilot study as a precursor to a prospective, observational study, an assessment of the cost of RRA, and an evaluation of models of patient-centred care based on behavioural support and the use of technology. Evidence-based digital and pocket tools that describe the most vulnerable for abuse, the perpetrator, the location of the abuse, the type of abuse and the most helpful approaches to prevention and intervention will be made available to all stakeholders through knowledge translation activities.