Iowa Nursing Home Characteristics Associated With Reported Abuse

Jogerst, Gerald J.; Daly, Jeanette M.; Dawson, Jeffrey D.; Peek-Asa, Corinne; Schmuch, Gretchen

doi:10.1016/j.jamda.2005.12.006

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Volume 7, Issue 4 , Pages 203-207, May 2006

Iowa Nursing Home Characteristics Associated With Reported Abuse

The research presented in this paper was supported by a grant from the University of Iowa Injury Prevention Research Center (CDC/NCIPC CCR 703640).

Gerald J. Jogerst, MD
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Iowa, Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA
- Address correspondence to Gerald J. Jogerst, MD, Department of Family Medicine, University of Iowa, 01286-D PFP, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242
Jeanette M. Daly, RN, PhD
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Iowa, Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA
Jeffrey D. Dawson, ScD
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City, IA
Corinne Peek-Asa, PhD
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City, Iowa
Gretchen Schmuch, MSW
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Iowa, Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA

published online 07 March 2006.

Objective

To evaluate the association of nursing home abuse reported by employees in Iowa licensed nursing homes with nursing home characteristics, inspection results, nursing staff hours, and census demographics.

Design

Mailed survey.

Setting

Iowa’s 409 Medicare-certified stand-alone nursing homes.

Participants

Administrators and directors of nursing.

Results

The annual rate of abusive events was 20.7 per 1000 nursing home residents, with a rate of 18.4 reported events and 5.2 substantiated events. A higher number of residents and a higher number of certified beds were significantly associated with higher incident, report, and substantiation rates. Higher incident and report rates were associated with nursing homes in metropolitan areas. Higher substantiation rates were associated with for-profit nursing homes.

Conclusion

Recognized abuse in nursing homes is not uncommon. Approximately 90% of events are reported to the state authorities with 29% of those being substantiated. Differences associated with nursing facility abuse rates are metropolitan area, ownership, occupancy rate, and number of residents and certified beds.

Keywords: Long-term care , nursing home , elder abuse , elder mistreatment