NURSING-HOME THEFT - THE HIDDEN PROBLEM

To date the subject of nursing home theft, the stealing of patients' p ossessions, has been ignored by researchers. Data are presented from a survey of 281 employees at six nursing homes. Rates of self-reported theft and theft observed by others are given. The predictors of self-r eported theft appear to be age, sex, and race. Other factors related t o theft include job dissatisfaction, negative attitudes toward patient s, and approving attitudes toward theft.