We have the tools already
This week's parliamentary report on elder abuse reflects poorly on the CSCI, which should have dealt with these issues years ago.
Paul Ridout August 17, 2007 9:00 AM (The Guardian UK)
The care sector has always had a small minority of providers delivering a poor, sometimes degrading service - so the joint committee on human rights' findings will come as little surprise to many.
This is a heavily regulated sector. The Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) is currently the body charged with regulating the sector (it will become part of the super-regulator Ofcare in 2009) and so, in terms of blame, the buck stops there. CSCI inspects against rigorous regulations and standards covering every aspect of care from admission assessments and daily activities to care delivery and complaints. It can even prosecute breaches. That there are still abuses reflects poorly on CSCI (and its predecessor, NCSC) who have had about five and a half years to address these issues.
Interestingly, CSCI recently hailed the adoption of its new enforcement policy. This was greeted with some bemusement in the sector, as many thought isn't that what CSCI should have been doing all along? Many will draw the same conclusion now.
I want to stress that the vast majority of care homes provide a really good service, committed to the dignified care of older people. We should work harder to identify the small minority of bad providers and either bring them up to scratch or remove them from the sector. CSCI has all the power and resource it needs - it just needs to get better at using them properly and effectively in the interests of the people who matter - the service users.
Today's joint committee report tells us nothing new. It fails to make any meaningful criticism of the regulatory body in this country and that is what has been missing from this debate in the last 24 hours - the fact is that the regulatory tools already exist to tackle the substandard care that we all find so unacceptable.
Abridged - Source: The Guardian
August 18, 2007
Elder Abuse - Searching for Solutions Part 2
Elder Abuse outside nursing homes.
Majority of the those over 65 years of age, live in their own homes. Many of them are still active and have the capacity to make major decisions about their well-being.
The term “Elder Abuse by Family Members” refers to situations where the rights of older adults are abused by people they trusted, such as family members or friends. Elder abuse can take the forms of:
· Financial or material abuse: For example, the use of an older person’s money or property without their permission
· Emotional or Psychological abuse: For example, verbal or physical threats, including threats of abandonment and intimidation; threats to harm others and pets; withdrawal of love and support Y Physical abuse: For example, slapping, punching, pushing, beating, burning and restraining
· Sexual abuse: For example, sex without consent, interference and harassment
· Social abuse: For example, restricting social freedom and isolating an older person from their family and friends
· Neglect: For example, failure to fulfil a commitment to provide assistance and support, such as neglecting to provide adequate food, shelter, care and emotional support.
Can you prevent elder abuse?
You can take action to protect yourself from experiencing elder abuse by:
· Remaining active in your community
· Maintain contact with family and other important people in your life
· Develop and maintain new friendships outside of your family, for example, be involved in an arts, religious or sports/recreational group; attend courses at your local recreation centre or TAFE
· Be involved in your community, for example, be a volunteer at the local school or Community Centre; join the local Resident’s Committee or Nature Preservation Group Planning for your own safety
· Make a list of five people you trust and can most rely on to support your best interests
· Keep the names and telephone numbers of these people handy
· Seek their support if you are experiencing fear or have other concerns
· Remember, “There is nothing so terrible that you can’t tell someone about it”.
· Arrange emergency procedures with these people and with other, for example, with your neighbours.
--------------------------
We may have grown older, but we do not lose our rights.
Keep informed about various issues concerning you and your society. If you think that you have been abused, seek help.
Check out the links on the sidebar of this blog. It is not a comprehensive list - but it is a start.
Adapted from: An Advocare Article
Majority of the those over 65 years of age, live in their own homes. Many of them are still active and have the capacity to make major decisions about their well-being.
The term “Elder Abuse by Family Members” refers to situations where the rights of older adults are abused by people they trusted, such as family members or friends. Elder abuse can take the forms of:
· Financial or material abuse: For example, the use of an older person’s money or property without their permission
· Emotional or Psychological abuse: For example, verbal or physical threats, including threats of abandonment and intimidation; threats to harm others and pets; withdrawal of love and support Y Physical abuse: For example, slapping, punching, pushing, beating, burning and restraining
· Sexual abuse: For example, sex without consent, interference and harassment
· Social abuse: For example, restricting social freedom and isolating an older person from their family and friends
· Neglect: For example, failure to fulfil a commitment to provide assistance and support, such as neglecting to provide adequate food, shelter, care and emotional support.
Can you prevent elder abuse?
You can take action to protect yourself from experiencing elder abuse by:
· Remaining active in your community
· Maintain contact with family and other important people in your life
· Develop and maintain new friendships outside of your family, for example, be involved in an arts, religious or sports/recreational group; attend courses at your local recreation centre or TAFE
· Be involved in your community, for example, be a volunteer at the local school or Community Centre; join the local Resident’s Committee or Nature Preservation Group Planning for your own safety
· Make a list of five people you trust and can most rely on to support your best interests
· Keep the names and telephone numbers of these people handy
· Seek their support if you are experiencing fear or have other concerns
· Remember, “There is nothing so terrible that you can’t tell someone about it”.
· Arrange emergency procedures with these people and with other, for example, with your neighbours.
--------------------------
We may have grown older, but we do not lose our rights.
Keep informed about various issues concerning you and your society. If you think that you have been abused, seek help.
Check out the links on the sidebar of this blog. It is not a comprehensive list - but it is a start.
Adapted from: An Advocare Article
August 17, 2007
Elder Abuse - Searching For Solution - Part 1
What Is Elder Abuse?
Elder abuse is the infliction of physical, emotional, or psychological harm on an older adult. Elder abuse also can take the form of financial exploitation or intentional or unintentional neglect of an older adult by the caregiver.
Most incidents of elder abuse don’t happen in a nursing home. Occasionally, there are shocking reports of nursing home residents who are mistreated by the staff. Such abuse does occur - but it is not the most common type of elder abuse.
Most elder abuse and neglect takes place at home.
The great majority of older people live on their own or with their spouses, children, siblings, or other relatives-not in institutional settings. When elder abuse happens, family, other household members, and paid caregivers usually are the abusers. Although there are extreme cases of elder abuse, often the abuse is subtle, and the distinction between normal interpersonal stress and abuse is not always easy to discern.
Elder abuse, like other forms of violence, is never an acceptable response to any problem or situation, however stressful. Effective interventions can prevent or stop elder abuse.
By increasing awareness among physicians, mental health professionals, home health care workers, and others who provide services to the elderly and family members, patterns of abuse or neglect can be broken, and both the abused person and the abuser can receive needed help.
Why Does Elder Abuse Happen?
There is no one explanation for elder abuse and neglect. Elder abuse is a complex problem that can emerge from several different causes, and that often has roots in multiple factors. These factors include family situations, caregiver issues, and cultural issues.
Caregiver Issues and Elder Abuse
Personal problems of the caregiver that can lead to abusing a frail older person include caregiver stress, mental or emotional illness, addiction to alcohol or other drugs, job loss or other personal crises, financial dependency on the older person, a tendency to use violence to solve problems. Sometimes the person being cared for may be physically abusive to the caregiver, especially when the older person has Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia.
Caregiver stress is a significant risk factor for abuse and neglect. When caregivers are thrust into the demands of daily care for an elder without appropriate training and without information about how to balance the needs of the older person with their own needs, they frequently experience intense frustration and anger that can lead to a range of abusive behaviors.
The risk of elder abuse becomes even greater when the caregiver is responsible for an older person who is sick or is physically or mentally impaired. Caregivers in such stressful situations often feel trapped and hopeless and are unaware of available resources and assistance. If they have no skills for managing difficult behaviors, caregivers can find themselves using physical force. Particularly with a lack of resources, neglectful situations can arise.
Sometimes the caregiver’s own self-image as a "dutiful child" may compound the problem by causing them to feel that the older person deserves and wants only their care, and that considering respite or residential care is a betrayal of the older person’s trust.
Dependency is a contributing factor in elder abuse. When the caregiver is dependent financially on an impaired older person, there may be financial exploitation or abuse. When the reverse is true, and the impaired older person is completely dependent on the caregiver, the caregiver may experience resentment that leads to abusive behavior.
Source: American Psychological Assn.
If you are caring for a family members and you feel that you need help - please check out the links listed in the sidebar. Get some help before you become part of the statistics of Elder Abusers.
Elder abuse is the infliction of physical, emotional, or psychological harm on an older adult. Elder abuse also can take the form of financial exploitation or intentional or unintentional neglect of an older adult by the caregiver.
Most incidents of elder abuse don’t happen in a nursing home. Occasionally, there are shocking reports of nursing home residents who are mistreated by the staff. Such abuse does occur - but it is not the most common type of elder abuse.
Most elder abuse and neglect takes place at home.
The great majority of older people live on their own or with their spouses, children, siblings, or other relatives-not in institutional settings. When elder abuse happens, family, other household members, and paid caregivers usually are the abusers. Although there are extreme cases of elder abuse, often the abuse is subtle, and the distinction between normal interpersonal stress and abuse is not always easy to discern.
Elder abuse, like other forms of violence, is never an acceptable response to any problem or situation, however stressful. Effective interventions can prevent or stop elder abuse.
By increasing awareness among physicians, mental health professionals, home health care workers, and others who provide services to the elderly and family members, patterns of abuse or neglect can be broken, and both the abused person and the abuser can receive needed help.
Why Does Elder Abuse Happen?
There is no one explanation for elder abuse and neglect. Elder abuse is a complex problem that can emerge from several different causes, and that often has roots in multiple factors. These factors include family situations, caregiver issues, and cultural issues.
Caregiver Issues and Elder Abuse
Personal problems of the caregiver that can lead to abusing a frail older person include caregiver stress, mental or emotional illness, addiction to alcohol or other drugs, job loss or other personal crises, financial dependency on the older person, a tendency to use violence to solve problems. Sometimes the person being cared for may be physically abusive to the caregiver, especially when the older person has Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia.
Caregiver stress is a significant risk factor for abuse and neglect. When caregivers are thrust into the demands of daily care for an elder without appropriate training and without information about how to balance the needs of the older person with their own needs, they frequently experience intense frustration and anger that can lead to a range of abusive behaviors.
The risk of elder abuse becomes even greater when the caregiver is responsible for an older person who is sick or is physically or mentally impaired. Caregivers in such stressful situations often feel trapped and hopeless and are unaware of available resources and assistance. If they have no skills for managing difficult behaviors, caregivers can find themselves using physical force. Particularly with a lack of resources, neglectful situations can arise.
Sometimes the caregiver’s own self-image as a "dutiful child" may compound the problem by causing them to feel that the older person deserves and wants only their care, and that considering respite or residential care is a betrayal of the older person’s trust.
Dependency is a contributing factor in elder abuse. When the caregiver is dependent financially on an impaired older person, there may be financial exploitation or abuse. When the reverse is true, and the impaired older person is completely dependent on the caregiver, the caregiver may experience resentment that leads to abusive behavior.
Source: American Psychological Assn.
If you are caring for a family members and you feel that you need help - please check out the links listed in the sidebar. Get some help before you become part of the statistics of Elder Abusers.
Elder Abuse - Carers - Not All Bad
I am taking the unusual step on this blog - to acknowledge the great work done by dedicated carers in nursing homes.
Whilst horrible stories on elder abuse in nursing homes are given the warranted publicity, let us not forget that there are others who give their hearts and souls to the caring of our loved ones in nursing homes. Often, they work in difficult environment - made more difficult by under-staffed and/or under-resourced workplace.
I know a few cases, where the carers gave so much of themselves that they "burnt out" and suffered personal health consequences.
Having said that, let me make a statement of caution. If you are a carer and you feel that you are stressed out, for whatever reasons - seek help before it leads to your becoming an abuser.
Check out the links given in the sidebar of this blog.
Whilst horrible stories on elder abuse in nursing homes are given the warranted publicity, let us not forget that there are others who give their hearts and souls to the caring of our loved ones in nursing homes. Often, they work in difficult environment - made more difficult by under-staffed and/or under-resourced workplace.
I know a few cases, where the carers gave so much of themselves that they "burnt out" and suffered personal health consequences.
Having said that, let me make a statement of caution. If you are a carer and you feel that you are stressed out, for whatever reasons - seek help before it leads to your becoming an abuser.
Check out the links given in the sidebar of this blog.
August 15, 2007
BETRAYAL OF OLD FOLK IS CRIMINAL
CALL AFTER SHOCK EVIDENCE Rights experts demand action on care homes
By David Hughes (The Daily Record.co.uk)
THE treatment of old folk in hospitals and care homes is so bad that some carers should be classed as criminals.
That was the stark warning yesterday from a group of MPs and peers, who demanded a "complete change of culture" in how the elderly are looked after.
Parliament's committee on human rights called for new laws to force old people's homes to provide decent standards of care.
The MPs said: "Elder abuse is a severe human rights abuse, perpetrated on vulnerable older people who depend on their abusers to provide them with care.
"Not only is it a betrayal of trust, it would also, in certain circumstances, amount to a criminal offence."
The committee carried out a major investigation of care homes.
Shocked MPs heard how frail residents were left lying in their own filth. Others were fed so badly that they fell victim to malnutrition, or suffered terrifying abuse at the hands of staff.
The probe into homes and hospitals in England and Wales mirrors an award-winning Daily Record investigation into the standards of care in Scotland.
Our findings prompted the Executive to give the Care Commission more power to tackle abuse and bullying.
The Westminster human rights committee are now demanding a similar crackdown south of the Border.
In their report, the committee gave a series of horrific examples of abuse suffered by old folk in care.
One 80-year-old woman suffered a serious sexual assault by a fellow resident but staff did not call police or even tell her family.
The authorities were only alerted a year later, when the woman's daughter found out what had happened.
In another case, an 89-year-old lady's bed sores were not treated because staff at her care home said it was "not their job".
A third abuse victim, a 92-year-old woman called Dorothy, was admitted to hospital but was not given the help she needed to eat.
The committee heard: "On many occasions, Dorothy's food was left untouched on her bedside table and taken away at the end of mealtimes by the catering staff."
The MPs attacked the Department of Health and Ministry of Justice for failing to tell care homes about their duties under the Human Rights Act.
The committee also found evidence of "historic and embedded ageism" and a failure to "respect and protect the human rights of older people".
A shocking 21 per cent of care homes in England and Wales failed to reach minimum standards fo privacy and dignity. The committee called for every care home to be brought under the powers of the Human Rights Act.
The committee's chairman, Labour MP Andrew Dismore, said: "We must see a complete change of culture in the health and care services."
The report was welcomed by Help the Aged. Kate Jopling, head of public affairs at the charity, said: "This influential group of parliamentarians have lifted the lid on the shameful treatment of our older citizens.
"Far from tending to the needs of the most vulnerable, too often these services fail to respect older people's most basic human rights. Surely the shocking examples highlighted by this report provide all the evidence this Government needs to justify urgent action to remedy the situation.
"Help the Aged have long called for a ban on age discrimination and for action to ensure older people in care have their human rights protected. The Government must now act."
Gordon Lishman, director general of Age Concern, said: "It is scandalous that there is ignorance and even blatant disregard of human rights, seven years after the Human Rights Act first came into force."
He added: "This hard-hitting report gets to the heart of many of the problems.
"The Department of Health must, as the committee says, show more leadership in putting human rights at the heart of health and social care."
Source
----------------------
Government around the world should take note. My plea on behalf of the voiceless - Act Now!
By David Hughes (The Daily Record.co.uk)
THE treatment of old folk in hospitals and care homes is so bad that some carers should be classed as criminals.
That was the stark warning yesterday from a group of MPs and peers, who demanded a "complete change of culture" in how the elderly are looked after.
Parliament's committee on human rights called for new laws to force old people's homes to provide decent standards of care.
The MPs said: "Elder abuse is a severe human rights abuse, perpetrated on vulnerable older people who depend on their abusers to provide them with care.
"Not only is it a betrayal of trust, it would also, in certain circumstances, amount to a criminal offence."
The committee carried out a major investigation of care homes.
Shocked MPs heard how frail residents were left lying in their own filth. Others were fed so badly that they fell victim to malnutrition, or suffered terrifying abuse at the hands of staff.
The probe into homes and hospitals in England and Wales mirrors an award-winning Daily Record investigation into the standards of care in Scotland.
Our findings prompted the Executive to give the Care Commission more power to tackle abuse and bullying.
The Westminster human rights committee are now demanding a similar crackdown south of the Border.
In their report, the committee gave a series of horrific examples of abuse suffered by old folk in care.
One 80-year-old woman suffered a serious sexual assault by a fellow resident but staff did not call police or even tell her family.
The authorities were only alerted a year later, when the woman's daughter found out what had happened.
In another case, an 89-year-old lady's bed sores were not treated because staff at her care home said it was "not their job".
A third abuse victim, a 92-year-old woman called Dorothy, was admitted to hospital but was not given the help she needed to eat.
The committee heard: "On many occasions, Dorothy's food was left untouched on her bedside table and taken away at the end of mealtimes by the catering staff."
The MPs attacked the Department of Health and Ministry of Justice for failing to tell care homes about their duties under the Human Rights Act.
The committee also found evidence of "historic and embedded ageism" and a failure to "respect and protect the human rights of older people".
A shocking 21 per cent of care homes in England and Wales failed to reach minimum standards fo privacy and dignity. The committee called for every care home to be brought under the powers of the Human Rights Act.
The committee's chairman, Labour MP Andrew Dismore, said: "We must see a complete change of culture in the health and care services."
The report was welcomed by Help the Aged. Kate Jopling, head of public affairs at the charity, said: "This influential group of parliamentarians have lifted the lid on the shameful treatment of our older citizens.
"Far from tending to the needs of the most vulnerable, too often these services fail to respect older people's most basic human rights. Surely the shocking examples highlighted by this report provide all the evidence this Government needs to justify urgent action to remedy the situation.
"Help the Aged have long called for a ban on age discrimination and for action to ensure older people in care have their human rights protected. The Government must now act."
Gordon Lishman, director general of Age Concern, said: "It is scandalous that there is ignorance and even blatant disregard of human rights, seven years after the Human Rights Act first came into force."
He added: "This hard-hitting report gets to the heart of many of the problems.
"The Department of Health must, as the committee says, show more leadership in putting human rights at the heart of health and social care."
Source
----------------------
Government around the world should take note. My plea on behalf of the voiceless - Act Now!
Elder Abuse - A Call for Culture Change
Culture change needed to protect the elderly, say MPs
By Nigel Morris, Home Affairs Correspondent
Published: 15 August 2007
Shocking levels of abuse, ill-treatment and neglect of elderly patients in hospitals and care homes are revealed in a damning report today.
An influential group of MPs and peers is demanding an "entire culture change" in health and care services and calls for tougher legislation to protect vulnerable pensioners.
They heard evidence of patients being poorly fed and dehydrated, given the wrong medicine, lacking privacy and even left lying in their own urine or excrement. Others were roughly handled by staff, deprived of their glasses, hearing aids or false teeth and discharged despite their frailty.
The Age Concern charity estimates that 500,000 older people in Britain suffer neglect or psychological, physical and financial abuse at any one time, although not all of this abuse occurs in health care. The elderly are the main users of the NHS, with two thirds of hospital beds occupied by people aged over 65.
The parliamentary Joint Select Committee on Human Rights condemns the Government's lack of "proper leadership" on the issue and points out that failing to counter the ill-treatment of older people could be a criminal offence. It says 21 per cent of care homes fail to reach minimum legal standards for privacy and dignity and says it found evidence of "historic and embedded ageism" within health care.
The committee says: "In our view, elder abuse is a serious and severe human rights abuse which is perpetrated on vulnerable older people who often depend on their abusers to provide them with care." It calls on the Government to place a duty on health and residential care providers to promote equality for older people, and to amend regulations so that all care homes are brought under the Human Rights Act. It also says that legislation banning age discrimination in the workplace should he extended to healthcare.
Andrew Dismore, the committee's Labour chairman, said the Human Rights Act had failed to eliminate the abuse. "It has become a tick-box exercise for lawyers, rather than becoming the lever to improve the delivery of services and in particular to ensure elderly people are treated decently," he said.
Ivan Lewis, the Health minister, said the Government would correct the "anomaly" of private care homes being excluded from the Human Rights Act.
Kate Jopling, for Help the Aged, said the report had "lifted the lid on the shameful treatment of our older citizens by health and care services".
Source: The Independent News
By Nigel Morris, Home Affairs Correspondent
Published: 15 August 2007
Shocking levels of abuse, ill-treatment and neglect of elderly patients in hospitals and care homes are revealed in a damning report today.
An influential group of MPs and peers is demanding an "entire culture change" in health and care services and calls for tougher legislation to protect vulnerable pensioners.
They heard evidence of patients being poorly fed and dehydrated, given the wrong medicine, lacking privacy and even left lying in their own urine or excrement. Others were roughly handled by staff, deprived of their glasses, hearing aids or false teeth and discharged despite their frailty.
The Age Concern charity estimates that 500,000 older people in Britain suffer neglect or psychological, physical and financial abuse at any one time, although not all of this abuse occurs in health care. The elderly are the main users of the NHS, with two thirds of hospital beds occupied by people aged over 65.
The parliamentary Joint Select Committee on Human Rights condemns the Government's lack of "proper leadership" on the issue and points out that failing to counter the ill-treatment of older people could be a criminal offence. It says 21 per cent of care homes fail to reach minimum legal standards for privacy and dignity and says it found evidence of "historic and embedded ageism" within health care.
The committee says: "In our view, elder abuse is a serious and severe human rights abuse which is perpetrated on vulnerable older people who often depend on their abusers to provide them with care." It calls on the Government to place a duty on health and residential care providers to promote equality for older people, and to amend regulations so that all care homes are brought under the Human Rights Act. It also says that legislation banning age discrimination in the workplace should he extended to healthcare.
Andrew Dismore, the committee's Labour chairman, said the Human Rights Act had failed to eliminate the abuse. "It has become a tick-box exercise for lawyers, rather than becoming the lever to improve the delivery of services and in particular to ensure elderly people are treated decently," he said.
Ivan Lewis, the Health minister, said the Government would correct the "anomaly" of private care homes being excluded from the Human Rights Act.
Kate Jopling, for Help the Aged, said the report had "lifted the lid on the shameful treatment of our older citizens by health and care services".
Source: The Independent News
Scamming the Elderly
A company, licensed in Hangzhou by a group of people led by Changjiang Bao from Hubei province, ripped off 51 older persons for a total amount of 910,000 Yuan within a single month. They told victims that the money were used for “investing in a duck raising project” and promised them “high investment returns.” Once they got the money, they ran away. A few days ago, the Hangzhong Police arrested the group led by Changjiang Bao and Jinyan Feng
Source: GAA article in Chinese
Source: GAA article in Chinese
Elder Abuse - Who pays?
Elderly victims have lost their homes to unscrupulous caregivers, sometimes including their own family members. Some have lost their lives from physical elder abuse. Often victims of elder abuse suffer consequences that are less obvious
- loss of self-esteem,
- sleeplessness,
- poorer concentration,
- depression etc.
Governments around the world should recognise that unnecessary stresses on these vulnerable older citizens will result in further strain on the health system in their respective country.
It is, therefore, irresponsible for the "head-in-the-sand" attitude of some politicians.
Raising awareness of elder abuse is paramount.
August 14, 2007
Nursing Homes in the US - Alarming Statisitics
The National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) in the United States keeps information on nursing home residents and incidence of nursing home abuse. These statistics estimate that more than 30% of all nursing homes have perpetrated some form of nursing home abuse and more than 50% of nursing homes are understaffed. The U.S. General Accounting Office compiled data that estimated that 1/4 of all nursing homes had deficiencies that caused them to harm a resident or put their residents at risk for serious injury or death. What is especially alarming - and extremely troubling - is that NCEA believes that only about 20% of all nursing home abuse ever gets reported. This is likely due in part to a large number of nursing home residents have some form of dementia rendering them unable to effectively communicate any concerns to loved ones.
Even with these alarming statistics, not enough is being done to address this crisis. The combination of low pay for nursing home staff, high staff turnover, and residents who cannot effectively report abuse, create a perfect storm for ever increasing rates of abuse and neglect.
What can a family do?
Although family members may not be able to effect widespread change, they can reduce - although not eliminate - the risk that their loved one will be the victim of abuse and neglect. Some measures include visiting on different days and times of days, question staff about any changes in resident's behavior, question the resident (to the extent possible) about any unexplained injuries and bruises.
Source
--------------------------------
The same pattern appears to be mirrored around the world. Family members and other concerned people - we have a lot to do. Politicians look to other way. It is up to us to force the issue.
Even with these alarming statistics, not enough is being done to address this crisis. The combination of low pay for nursing home staff, high staff turnover, and residents who cannot effectively report abuse, create a perfect storm for ever increasing rates of abuse and neglect.
What can a family do?
Although family members may not be able to effect widespread change, they can reduce - although not eliminate - the risk that their loved one will be the victim of abuse and neglect. Some measures include visiting on different days and times of days, question staff about any changes in resident's behavior, question the resident (to the extent possible) about any unexplained injuries and bruises.
Source
--------------------------------
The same pattern appears to be mirrored around the world. Family members and other concerned people - we have a lot to do. Politicians look to other way. It is up to us to force the issue.
August 13, 2007
Aged Care Crisis in Australia
As of 21 June 2007: 13 facilities currently facing sanction.
*statistics may not include all revoked licenses
Sanctions are imposed by the Department of Health and Ageing on approved providers in cases of non-compliance with their legislated responsibilities.
State-by-State information on: ACT; NSW; NT; QLD; SA; TAS; VIC; WA; Archived Sanctions Lists
------------------------------------
With federal election coming up in Australia, we have not heard anything from politicians regarding this issue. The "head-in-the-sand" attitude must stop! This problem is not going away, you can be sure of that, if nothing is done towards correcting the problems that still exist.
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