Elder Abuse in Residential Care Settings: Are Safeguarding Measures Enough? A Scoping Review of the Literature

Background Elder abuse (EA) constitutes a violation of the human rights of older people and is frequently described as a significant public health issue. However, the lived experience of older adults who have experienced EA in Residential Care Settings (RCS) remains relatively unknown. This scoping review examined the body of literature on EA in RCS, focusing on the lived experience of residents who experienced EA in RCS, highlighting safeguarding failures to address this issue at a global level. Methods This scoping review was conducted following the methodological framework developed by Arksey & O’Malley (2005), refined by Levac et al. (2010) and aligned with the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) guidelines. A systematic search of six databases was undertaken from inception to January 2023. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they provided first-hand accounts of older adults' experiences of EA within RCS. A structured data extraction process was implemented to identify key themes across the selected studies. Results From a pool of 3,701 articles, eight studies met the inclusion criteria. The findings revealed multiple forms of EA experienced by older adults living in RCS, including psychological, physical, financial, neglect, and sexual abuse. There was an absence of effective safeguarding measures and inadequate protective mechanisms in place to protect older people from EA, which increased residents’ exposure to EA in the studies reviewed. Systemic safeguarding failures included weak governance structures, insufficient regulatory oversight, and inconsistent staff training as contributing factors to the persistence of EA in RCS. Conclusion The findings highlighted deficiencies in safeguarding mechanisms globally within RCS, calling for the development of more robust regulatory frameworks, enhanced safeguarding training, and stronger regulatory enforcements to mitigate the risk of EA in RCS. Addressing these shortcomings is imperative to upholding the human rights, dignity, and well-being of older adults living in RCS.