Dementia Care Facilities Face Repeated Violence Despite Oversight

Why it matters locally: The findings of repeated violence in dementia care facilities raise concerns for Massachusetts residents with loved ones in similar care settings, as state regulators and healthcare providers will need to ensure robust safeguards are in place to protect vulnerable populations.

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Nurses homes and assisted living facilities experience recurrent violence between residents suffering from dementia, according to court documents and inspection reports. These instances include fatal assaults. Regulators have issued warnings, and inspections have taken place. However, the existing safeguards in these facilities frequently fail to prevent such incidents. Records show these shortcomings in resident protection persist.