Older Adults Can be Bullies, Too

Today we often read about cyber-bullies among young people, but bullying also plagues senior centers, assisted living facilities and nursing homes. 

Between fifteen and twenty-five percent of residents in senior care homes are mistreated by peers.  Nationwide, that translates to hundreds of thousands of people who endure abuse. 

 Many incidents of name-calling, bossy behavior, loud arguments, and at its most extreme, physical violence go unreported. 

Some facilities adopt practices that aim to preempt aggressive behavior.  If you are sizing up a place, experts recommend asking whether it follows these practices:

1. Residents are required to sign a code of conduct to treat peers with consideration and respect.
2. Resident “ambassadors” help newcomers transition into the community.
3. Staff members coach residents on how to handle snubs and aggression.
4. Staff members encourage bystanders to act in positive ways when they observe bullying
5. Being respectful of possible physical or cognitive impairment.
6. Offenders receive a written reprimand.
7. Multiple complaints result in stronger and more stringent penalties.

It’s good to keep in mind that we are living in a violent and threatening world today.  No one is safe from terrorism on their own turf.  However, we shouldn’t be influenced by what the television programs we view and the news we listen to and read everyday to act out on our fellow man and woman.