Formal carers’ perspectives on elder abuse within a Maltese care home

Abstract

Background: Countries across the globe are experiencing an ageing population. This leads to an increase in older persons’ dependency on others, increasing their likelihood of relocation to longterm care. Formal carers within care homes may be faced with various personal and situational risk factors leading older person residents to be at risk of elder abuse. Aims and Method: This research explored formal carers’ perspectives on elder abuse within a Maltese Care Home. A qualitative research strategy through semi-structured interviews with six formal carers explored, (1) formal carers’ understanding of elder abuse, (2) risk factors that lead a person to becoming abusive, (3) how formal carers perceive the Maltese legal system safeguards the older person from elder abuse and (4) formal carers’ insights into the current procedures, policies and measures with respect to elder abuse within a care home. Data was analysed through thematic analysis. Results: The analysis generated, four main themes, (1) formal carers’ perspectives on elder abuse, (2) personal and institutional challenges leading to elder abuse, (3) cultivating skills and training on elder abuse to formal carers and (4) empowering the older persons. Conclusion: Formal carers indicated no instances of elder abuse within the facility. Findings also revealed that formal carers associated elder abuse with verbal, emotional or psychological abuse. Individual and institutional challenges were construed to lead a person to become abusive. Finally, formal carers highlighted the importance of education on elder abuse. Recommendations include, (1) resident empowerment, (2) future research, (3) implementation of a proposed law and (4) training for formal carers from the facility’s management.