There is growing recognition that violent situations sometimes happen in long-term care (LTC) settings (Curry, 2015). The normalization of violence and abuse within care institutions like long-term care homes further hinders efforts to address this issue effectively. Violence includes physical, psychological, sexual, and emotional violence, and it can harm people in different ways. To ensure the well-being of staff, older adults, and their families, it is essential to know what forms of violence they face, how often, and what factors might contribute to violence and violence prevention. This report outlines the results of a survey with LTC staff about the violence they experienced.

Knowledge User Report - June 2023

Knowledge User Report - Manitoba 2022

Violence can have far-reaching impacts on the well-being of staff in long-term care and the older adults for which they provide care. The general public expects long-term care to be safe for everyone. Yet, violence is common in the long-term care sector. It occurs in different forms (e.g., verbal, physical, and sexual) and in different directions (e.g., from residents/clients toward staff and from staff toward residents/clients). Some violence is referred to as responsive behaviours, recognizing that the actions, words or gestures of person living with dementia have meaning and may reflect something wrong in their social and physical environment or an unmet need (Alzheimer Society, 2019). In this report, we focus on violence toward staff within long-term residential care (referred to as personal care homes in Manitoba) and home care settings. We review the findings of a provincial survey, which is part of a larger project called Safe Places for Aging and Care. We outline the types of training staff receive to prevent violence, types and prevalence of violence, and staff recommendations for preventing violence.

November 2021

Knowledge User Report (2021)

Media

Journal Articles

  • A Team-Based Comparative Case Study of Violence Across Care Settings for Older Adults in Two Canadian Provinces

    Herron, R. V., Novek, S., Kruth, M. L., Spencer, D., Funk, L., Aubrecht, K., ... & Brownridge, D. (2021). A Team-Based Comparative Case Study of Violence Across Care Settings for Older Adults in Two Canadian Provinces. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 20, 16094069211044895. DOI: 10.1177/16094069211044895

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Presentations

  • Mapping the Policy Context of Violence in Long-term Care in Manitoba and Nova Scotia

    Abstract: Violence is pervasive within home and residential long-term care, affecting older adults, family carers and paid care workers. As part of the Safe Places for Aging and Care Study, we conducted a document analysis to examine provincial and regional strategies for preventing and addressing violence in home care and residential long-term care in Manitoba and Nova Scotia. In total, we analyzed 51 documents from both provinces (legal documents, provincial policy documents, regional policy documents and reports) using qualitative content analysis. This presentation will provide an overview of major policy responses to violence in home care and residential long-term care and critically reflect on how violence and violence prevention is constructed within policy documents. The presentation will conclude with recommendations for policy development and outline our plans for future research.

    Presenters:

    Dr. Sheila Novek, PhD

    Postdoctoral Fellow, Safe Places for Aging and Care

    Dr. Rachel Herron

    Department of Geography and Environment, Brandon University

    Nov. 18th, 2021 from 12:00 to 13:00 CT

    Centre for Critical Studies in Rural Mental Health Seminar Series