Resident-to-Resident Elder Aggression in Flemish Long-term Care Homes

Abstract

This chapter focuses on resident-to-resident elder aggression (RREA), aggression and violence that occurs between residents of nursing homes. Building on international literature and own research data from individual, qualitative interviews with professional staff from five nursing homes in Belgium, this chapter aims to increase knowledge on this specific type of elder abuse and mistreatment. First, this chapter describes the different types and manifestations of RREA, and pays attention to the relationship between perpetrator and victim, the multiple possible situations of offending, prevalence, location of the aggression, and impacts on the victim. Second, this chapter provides understanding on the triggers and onset of RREA in a nursing home, using the ecological framework looking at risk factors on individual/micro/exo/macro level. Finally, this chapter explores policy and practice on how to deal with RREA.

Citation

De Donder, L. and Claeys, B. (2023), "Resident-to-Resident Elder Aggression in Flemish Long-term Care Homes", Bows, H. (Ed.) Not Your Usual Suspect: Older Offenders of Violence and Abuse (Feminist Developments in Violence and Abuse), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 93-104. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-80071-887-620231007