Defining Resident Abuse within the Culture of Long-Term Care Institutions

Although researchers have identified the presence of resident abuse within long-term care facilities, it has not come under the same scrutiny as have other aspects of abuse against older adults. This is due, in part, to the difficulty in defining the phenomenon. The purpose of this study was to articulate a definition of resident abuse as perceived by registered nurses working in long-term care institutions. Ethnoscience was the method used to answer this question. The five categories of resident abuse characteristics—perception of hurt felt by older residents, acts of omission or commission, context of care, intentional or unintentional, and behavioral clusters—that emerged through semistructured interviews and focus groups reflect the descriptions given by participants. Identifying a common definition of resident abuse suggests that assessment and intervention to reduce episodes of it are more likely to be effective.