Discuss the Function of Research in a Chosen Area of Interest

M1 - discuss the function of research in a chosen area of interest

(pick a topic discuss the function and how it applies to the topic)

For this assignment I will be mentioning the following functions:

-Extending Knowledge and Understanding

-Planning Provision

-Identifying Needs

-Monitoring Progress

Research is the process of gathering information from a specific subject or a purpose. Research is of an importance when it comes to health and social care. Some researches can take hours, days, months or even years. Trough research, our society can have a better understanding of what patients and other services users need and how we can improve the service they receive.

I have done my research on physical abuse in care homes. This research will investigate the causes of abuse in care homes.

Physical abuse in care homes is usually caused due to a variety of factors as opposed to one explicit factor. One main cause for physical abuse in care homes can be attributed due to understaffing, as residents in understaffed nursing homes may not receive adequate attention from caregivers. If there is understaffing, the remaining staff will have a lot of work in their hands and therefore become frustrated and some might take their anger out on the patients since they don’t have as much patience as they would if they didn’t have as much work to do.

Other issues include personal issues among caregivers and residents. Family, cultural, and societal issues may also play a role in elder abuse causes due to the differences in opinions. For example, if a patient is from a white European background and are racist towards their carer who is from a black African background, this will anger the carer who might result to violence towards their racist patient.

However, no matter the cause, residents, caregivers, and family members should remain alert and aware of elder abuse warning signs to prevent harm to involved individuals.

The results of my research will help to:

• Bring awareness of the issue (extending knowledge)
• Teach care workers how to deal with their patients (planning provision of care for the victims)
• Help create a better environment for patients  (monitor the progress of the support given by the teaching the carers have received)

Extending Knowledge

The results of my research (physical abuse) help to extend knowledge due to the fact that I can bring awareness to the issue of physical abuse in care homes. By doing this research it has helped me to learn that, according to BBC (2013) http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-24399139 : “HSCIC figures showed that the number of cases referred for investigation by councils in England rose from 108,000 in 2011/2012, to 112,000 in 2012/2013.”. This means that the rate of physical abuse in nursing homes has risen. This research has helped me to extend knowledge in physical abuse by learning the statistics of physical abuse and this is essential due to the fact that it would help me bring awareness to this kind of issue in order to prevent it from increasing.