Most viewed procedures

Abuse:  Is defined as "a single, or repeated act, or lack of appropriate action, occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust which causes harm or distress to an older person" (World Health Organization).  There are two forms of abuse: Violence:       any action which causes harm to a user; Negligence:    the failure to perform a necessary action which results in harm to the user.  Neglect can be intentional or voluntary where the person understands the harm caused to the user or it can be unintentional where the person does not commit it voluntarily and it occurs as a result of lack of time, lack of knowledge, etc. Neglect can be either active or passive.  The difference lies in the intent of the abuser: active neglect:  is conscious and intentional deprivation by a person in a position of trust of basic necessities resulting in harmful effects; passive neglect:  is refusal or failure by a person in a position of trust, either because of inadequate knowledge, infirmity, overload or disputing the value of the prescribed service, to provide basic necessities resulting in harmful effects. The abuser could be any person in a position of trust, e.g., family member, friend, caregiver/companion, staff member, volunteer, visitor, patient/resident, etc. Abuse can take various forms such as:   Physical abuse:  hitting, pushing, throwing objects, force-feeding, secluding, bullying, unduly delaying assistance to meet basic needs (e.g., trips to the bathroom); Psychological or emotional abuse:  identity theft, attacking the person’s dignity or self-esteem, humiliation, threats, verbal abuse, infantilizing, ignoring or secluding, degrading remarks, disparaging remarks about one’s values, religious beliefs or practices; Sexual abuse:  harassment, fondling or touching, being victim of exhibitionism, sexual abuse, being ridiculed for wanting to express one’s sexuality; Financial abuse:  being extorted through emotional blackmail, being robbed of one’s jewelry, good or cash, being pressured about an inheritance, embezzlement of one’s funds, identity theft, telemarketing scams, inappropriate use of bank cards or fraudulent preauthorized payment plans;  Neglect:  The omissions of any act required to maintain the well-being of a senior, regardless of whether the omission is deliberate or due to a lack of knowledge or lack of awareness about any given situation.