ELDERLY EMOTIONAL ABUSE AND BURNOUT AMONG THEIR CAREGIVERS

Abstract

Causes of elder abuse are wide-ranging—and seeing caregivers' burnout as a primary cause of abuse has unintended and detrimental consequences that affect the efforts to end this widespread problem.Aim: The present study aimed to examine correlation between elderly emotional abuse and burnoutamong their formal and family caregivers. Research design: Descriptive correlation research design was utilized in this study to achieve the stated aim. Setting: The study was conducted in Dar El Walaa nursing home in Meet –Ghamr city and outpatient clinics in El-Ahrar General hospital inZagazig. Sample: It included 150 older person(60) residing in Dar El-Walaa nursing home in Meet –Ghamr city and(90) non- institutionalized elders from outpatient clinics in El-Ahrar General hospital in Zagazig, and 50 of their formal and family caregivers of both settings. Tools of data collection:Three tools were used, Tool I: Socio-demographic data sheet of the caregivers .Tool II: Elder Abuse Screening Instrument which was used to assess client's safety and client's access to services. Tool III: Maslach Burnout Inventory which is divided into two subscales: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization. Results: The study results revealed that majority of the studied elders always feel unsafe, isolated from friends or regular activities, anyone can cause blaming, harassment for them or improperly call their names, treated as infants, scolded or shouted at by others, are deprived to give consent for particular intervention, in addition to exposed to discrimination from others with lack of personal hygiene& clothing and failure of their caregivers to provide an outlet for recreational/occupational activities. Moreover, the majority of the studied formal and familial caregivers are always emotionally exhausted since they felt emotionally drained from their work and they felt used up at the end of the work day and feel fatigued when they get up in the morning and have to face another day on the job. Conclusion: There are strong positive associations between levels of elderly emotional abuse and levels of their caregivers' burnout. Recommendations: Based on findings recommendations are suggested: 1) More research on protective factors against elder abuse and neglect is needed, ,2) Support group interventions with informal caregivers,(3) Ensuring continuity of education of formal caregivers in addition to that ongoing improvement of health &social services to prevent and treat elder abuse or mistreatment.