PANE: Preventing Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation
A free program supported by CMS Tennessee Department of Health to assist in training staff working in nursing facilities on abuse, neglect, and exploitation of elders. The program offers case management to residents of nursing facilities who are victims of abuse, or at risk for being victimized. With this program in place, our goal is to improve the overall quality of care for nursing home residents, as well as supporting nursing facility staff to improve the ratings of all facilities.
Preventing Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation (PANE) is a program specifically designed to prevent and combat elder abuse occurring within nursing facilities across Knox County. PANE is a program that is offered through the Knoxville-Knox County Community Action Committee’s Office on Aging, and is a CMP-funded program. The program provides an evidence-based training curriculum surrounding elder abuse and its effects to all nursing facility staff within Knox County, as well as providing direct case-management services to residents who may be victims of abuse and those who may be at risk for victimization. The case management services offered through this program include safety planning, assistance with obtaining an Order of Protection or Restraining order, law enforcement accompaniment and support, emotional support, and psychoeducation surrounding elder abuse and the effects it can have on a victim.
There is a great need for this program as the rate of elder abuse cases in Knox County has increased steadily in the last several years. Between 2015 and 2017, there was a 35% increase in elder abuse cases throughout Knox County. Additionally, it is estimated that 1 in 4 vulnerable older adults are at risk for abuse, with occurrences of abuse, neglect, and exploitation occurring in 1 out of every 3 nursing facilities. Within Knox County, 8 out of 14 nursing facilities received a Star Rating, a Medicare rating tool to measure the quality of care within nursing facilities, between 1 and 3, and one nursing facility was recently cited for an abuse, neglect, and exploitation incident.
Training includes:
- What is abuse and neglect?
- How to identify abuse and neglect
- Who and why we report
- Interactive exercises to assist staff in understanding elders and their struggles
- Caregiver self-care to avoid burnout
- Caregiver tips to empower your staff
Resident benefits:
- Staff will have a better understanding of resident needs
- Assist with the needs at home when discharging
- Trauma informed care, which assists staff to understand resident needs
- Any resident can qualify for assistance transitioning back to the community that has dealt with trauma and abuse at home
- Upon discharge, refer to CAC’s Rise Above Crime program
Staff benefits:
- Understanding abuse and neglect and how the state and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid look at abuse
- Trauma informed care information
- Better understanding of what our elders go through daily to assist in better care
- Customer service training
- Continuing Education Credits
We are in this together to make a better workplace for staff and a better home for every person who lives in long term care.