Elderly abused in the RSA on the rise, Anap Sardinia: "Supervise and report"

«The phenomenon of ill-treatment in nursing homes is a serious problem that requires everyone's attention . Older people residing in these facilities are often vulnerable and can become victims of ill-treatment, which includes physical, psychological and sexual abuse . However, these situations must not make us forget that, fortunately, the vast majority of structures are made up of serious, qualified personnel who really and passionately take care of their guests or our loved ones». So Paola Montis , Regional President of ANAP Sardinia, the Association of Artisan Pensioners of Confartigianato , after a long investigation in northern Italy brought to light violence and ill-treatment against some guests of a residence for the elderly and after the publication of a study by the Ministry of Health which, according to which in Italy , in recent years, over 9,000 cases of ill-treatment have been registered , and in constant increase.

The data

The data on the guests of the structures on the island speak of 4,917 assisted (3,503 women and 1,413 men), of whom 1,738 are self-sufficient and as many as 3,179 are not self-sufficient .

"The increase in the number of ill-treatment in nursing homes is worrying - continues Montis - these data show how the phenomenon needs to be carefully monitored by the competent authorities and sector organizations".

"Unfortunately, this evidence is pushing families to entrust their 'fragile loved ones' to such structures less and less (according to Assindatacolf, only 41.5% of families take care of nursing homes into consideration) - underlines Montis - preferring, on the contrary, the services of a carer, even with all the economic and quality problems of care that this entails ».

Strict policies and protocols

According to the Association of the Elderly and Pensioners of Confartigianato «one of the most effective ways to combat abuse in the elderly is the adoption of rigorous policies and protocols in the nursing homes; in fact, these should have clear and well-documented procedures for reporting, managing and preventing ill-treatment. In addition, staff should be trained regularly to recognize signs of ill-treatment and know what to do if there is a suspicion. Furthermore, nursing homes should be subject to regular checks and inspections to ensure the quality of care and safety of older people. The bodies in charge, such as the local ASP or ASL, should increase surveillance to prevent any episodes of ill-treatment . In this way, those responsible for any ill-treatment could be identified and punished with consequent fines and, in the most serious cases, arrests".

Again for ANAP, it is «important that the elderly and their families are informed about their rights and that they know how to report any cases of abuse ; therefore, clear and secure communication channels should be provided to ensure the confidentiality of information and the safety of the elderly".

The interventions

In Italy, various interventions have been introduced to combat the phenomenon of ill-treatment in nursing homes. For example, law 219 of 2017 defines the rights of assisted persons and introduces new measures to guarantee the quality of care and the protection of the rights of the elderly. Furthermore, the Ministry of Health has activated a free telephone line and a chat service to report any cases of ill-treatment.

"Like ANAP, we hope that the draft law on the reform of non-self-sufficiency - continues the President - which is currently undergoing its approval process in Parliament, can provide for the quantitative and above all qualitative development of residential services, to be implemented in 2024, a once the Delegated Decrees have been approved".

«In addition to all this – concludes Montis – it is essential to adopt rigorous policies and protocols in the RSA, increase surveillance and inform the elderly and their families about their rights. Only in this way can abuse of the elderly be effectively prevented and combated and guaranteed the dignity and respect they deserve.

(Unioneonline/vl)