A resident grabs your arm while you're helping them dress. A client's family member corners you in a hallway, shouting. A person you've cared for every day this week lashes out during a transfer. You go home sore, shaken, or both. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If any of this sounds familiar, you're not alone. Violence is one of the leading causes of injury for healthcare workers in British Columbia \u2014 and workers in long-term care and home support are among those most impacted. It can take a toll on your body, your mental health, and your ability to keep showing up for the people who depend on you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Workplace violence means physical force that causes injury to a worker. It also means any threatening statement or behaviour that gives you reasonable cause to believe you're in danger. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Workplace violence is not just punches or kicks. It can look like being grabbed while providing care, being screamed at or backed into a corner, or a threatening gesture that leaves you afraid for your safety. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In continuing care, violence can come from many sources: residents, clients, family members, visitors, or others at work. It can happen during routine care, during a tense conversation with a family member, or without any warning at all. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The bottom line: violence is not part of the job. No matter how much you care about the people you support, being hurt or threatened should never be treated as normal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Workplace violence is one of the leading causes of injury for healthcare workers in British Columbia. Workers in long-term care and home support face a higher risk due to the nature of their work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
None of these factors makes violence acceptable. But they help explain why care work needs tailored violence prevention strategies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you work with people living with dementia, you already know this tension. A resident strikes out while you're helping them get dressed \u2014 not because they want to hurt you, but because they're frightened, in pain, or can't understand what's happening. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A resident or client\u2019s behaviour may be a response to something in their environment, their body, or their emotional state. It's a form of communication, not intentional aggression. Understanding this shapes how care is planned and how teams approach prevention. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, a bruise caused by a person living with dementia hurts just as much as any other bruise. The fear and stress of unpredictable situations affect your well-being, no matter what caused them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Many continuing care workers carry this tension every shift. You know the person didn't mean to hurt you. Those feelings make sense\u2014and they're exactly why violence prevention in this sector is complex. Education and resources tailored for continuing care support you in understanding responsive behaviours and approach care in ways that lower the risk for everyone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n