When people place their family members in the care of a professional caregiver, they trust that they will be properly taken care of and that their every need will be met. Unfortunately, for the vast majority of people who require some kind of assistance, this is not the kind of care that they receive. Many people in care are abused and taken advantage of those that look after them. Care givers can be family members, friends or a person paid to take care of someone with special needs. Types of abuse range greatly, from misuse and stealing of money, physical and abuse, emotional abuse, giving wrong medication, depriving someone of financial benefits, preventing someone from working or living a full life among many other things (“Abuse of People With Disabilities).
People with disabilities are already at a much greater risk for abuse than other people, but the most vulnerable are children. Every year, millions of children are abused by their parents and other caregivers (Gonzalez). Children are already an easy target, but children with intellectual, learning, and physical disabilities can be nearly defenceless. These children can be easily abused emotionally and psychologically through manipulation as well as physically and sexually when care takers and other people take advantage of their physical disabilities. Such was the case with twenty-three year-old Katlin Cousineau. Katlinn had a disability that caused her to have the intellect of a child half her age, about twelve or thirteen. She lived with a friend Susanna Balogh until 2005 when they moved into Paul Brady, Susanna’s boyfriends, home. Paul Bradey lived in a dirty, broken down home with two dozen animals and several pre-teen children as well as another roommate, Matthew Sitte. Upon moving in, Katiln was made to sleep and live in what was described as a dungeon-like basement. Katiln was abused by her room mates. Over time, the abuse until one night Paul Bradey and Matthew Sitte went into the basement and physically abused Katiln. They used a torch to burn her until she died. To solve their “problem” all three of Katiln’s roommates burned down the house, leaving her body inside (McLaughlin).
Although Katiln’s story is very extreme, the abuse suffered before her death is all too common. Many care takers abuse their own power over their patient’s life or simply get too frustrated to properly care for them. Common signs of at-risk care givers include:
• Rejection of support: This is apparent when care takers become aggressive or abusive
• Abuse and Aggression: Signs of this occur when care givers refuse help from others and will not take breaks
• Excessive Care Needs: When the patient’s needs are too great for the care taker to handle
• Missing Thresholds: When a caregiver asks for help, but does not meet requirements
(“How To Spot Caregivers At Risk For Abuse).
Many major issues can be found when looking at caregiver abuse through the Social Demographic ideology. Most importantly, the social demographic ideology focuses on equality of all people. It believes that all people, regardless of their abilities, race or gender, has a right to life, freedom and dignity. All of these things are ignored when people are not cared for properly. Secondly, when people are abused, neglected, or deprived of a full life, society is missing out on the talents and abilities these people do have. To ensure that people with disabilities are benefiting as much as general society “The province of Ontario should create “coaching teams” to teach workers at long-term care homes how to go about their business without abusing or neglecting residents”, says Wayne Kondro . Kondro’s idea supports the social demographic ideology that welfare (ie. Proper care) ensures that the people are invested in, which benefits everyone. This ideology would identify abuse and neglect of those with disabilities as the stripping of basic human rights, dignity, independence, and overall, equality. This is an issue that needs to be dealt with critically and services need to be provided to prevent this as much as possible.
References
"Abuse of People With Disabilities." bccrns.ca. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 May 2012.
Gonzalez, A., and H. MacMillan. "Preventing child maltreatment: An evidence-based update." Journal of Postgraduate Medicine Oct.-Dec. 2008: 280. InfoTrac Diversity Studies eCollection. Web. 5 Nov. 2012. DocumentURLhttp://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA188397319&v=2.1&u=saul58289&it=r&p=SPJ.SP05&sw=w
"How to spot carers at risk from abuse." Community Care 8 Sept. 2011. Academic OneFile. Web. 5 Nov. 2012.DocumentURLhttp://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA266957046&v=2.1&u=ko_pl_portal&it=r&p=AONE&sw=w
Kondro, Wayne. "Pedagogic wonders." CMAJ: Canadian Medical Association Journal 10 July 2012: E535. Academic OneFile. Web. 5 Nov. 2012.
McLaughlin, Tracy . "Disabled woman suffered 'degradation and abuse' |Canada | News | Toronto Sun." Toronto Sun. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Nov. 2012 <http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2009/05/22/9532691-sun.html>.
This is horrible! I was very unpleasantly surprised when I read this post. Although I had heard of elder abuse, that is about as far as I had thought about the vulnerability of the people who are defenseless against whatever the caregiver chooses to do to them. It must be very frightening for parents and children to pass the care of their realtive over to someone after hearing all these stories of all the awful things that have been happening.
ReplyDeleteThis makes me wonder what meausres are in place to screen possible caregivers. I would hope that there is a very thorough process that people must go through in order to work with people who are so vulnerable. I do know, however, that often the care of a child or a person with a disability is given over to someone who is trusted. They then can sometimes abuse the trust they have been given and hurt the very same people they are meant to be helping.
Thank you for bringing this to my attention, and I too hope that changes will be made to the system and that stricter measures will be put in place to prevent this from happening again.
-Selina
That story was horrifying and so so sad. I can't believe someone could actually do that to a young girl, or even anyone in general. It is disgusting what people do in this world, and it is even more upsetting that the young girl more than likely wasn't able to really even help herself.
ReplyDeleteI can relate to your post because I was recently told that this person who is paid to care for elder people had no respect for them what so ever. She would be really rough with them while dressing them, she would yell at the elders and it went to the extreme that she would put them on the lift nude where everyone could see her body. But since the person was so old she couldn't even help herself or do anything about it.. I'm pretty sure she couldn't see or talk.
Hunter
WOW! I can't even explain how terrible that must be for a family member to deal with. Although on the other hand, where we're her parents, and why would they allow her to stay with such incompetent "friends"? Also, why would Kaitlinn not have a disability worker? There seems to be so many unanswered questions to that story. I have heard of elder abuse before, recently from a co-worker. Her mother was on her death bed and at the last minute her ex-husband forced her to sign away her life savings to him. Such hurtful stories, but unfortunately they are real life.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many hungry-money people in Canada, and will do anything for a paycheck. I wish there was more security and back ground checks when hiring such people for these delicate jobs. I like your post because it made me more aware of the seriousness toward this issue. Canadians need to think about their own family members, and if this was to ever happen to their parents/ grandparents, and put themselves in their shoes. This problem needs to stop!
-Meri-Beth *
This story was absolutly shocking...I have done a similar paper in college on elder abuse and was just as shocked then reading through my own news paper articles. Unfrotunatly this is a topic that many people simply over look because they do not want to be responsible for the elder in their family. When doing my research i was shocked to find out that several elders are even abused by their only family through things like fraud. I am so glad someone took the time to research and post on this issue because it is one that is generally over looked by society alot of the time.
ReplyDeleteErica
This is a really serious problem in society today. It is one that does get some exposure however, I have never noticed or heard about anything prevention measures taking place. I feel you brought powerful light to this dark reality. I believe a major aspect influencing caretakers behaviours is actually the amount of self-care they take part in for themselves. I know its a concept most professionals hear over and over again but it's the truth. Im not sure if there are rules or policies in place where it is absolutely essential that caretakers take a break and time for themselves but I think that would be crucial. I'm acturally just very shocked. Very powerful blog.
ReplyDeleteCassandra
This really hit home for me, as my great grandma is currently in a nursing home and will be until she passes. Our family as a whole decided that putting her into a nursing home was the best idea that way she would have around the clock care, knowing that she was safe and being taken care of was supposed to put our minds to ease. But it seems that it's only worse the care takers at the nursing home are very unfriendly and don't like there job. They once left my grandma in a wheel chair facing the wall expecting her to get down to lunch by herself, problem being she has no use of the right side of her body so she was stuck sitting there for hours. I had heard about elder abuse before but I truly didn't think that someone could be so rude and hurtful to another human being especially one who can't do things on there own.
ReplyDelete-Karlie
I see this issue as one of the saddest things that could ever happen to a person who deserves so much respect. Elder abuse is prevalent in everyday situations especially in situations where you thing professionals would take better care. This blog was very informative.
ReplyDeleteTrista
Thanks for sharing and bringing awareness on caregiver abuse. As a caregiver myself I know how hard it is to provide 24 hour care to a family member or an individual who cannot live without support and care to meet the basic living needs. As a certified Personal Support Worker, I have many issues with how the provincial government allocates the administration of non for profit or profit homes for the elderly or for those who need 24 assistance care. Because the demand for these homes are great, we know that the workers are over worked and the pay is probably low. The amount of work in such little time periods should make one think of what really goes on in some homes. For
ReplyDeleteHomes for the elderly- answer these questions:
1) If the home you place your loved one in, is it being paid by the government and tax dollars?
2) Is the home for profit....to make money?
3) Have you ever stayed from morning to night and see what all needs to be done on a regular day? and if so how many clients to one PSW or caregiver.
4) Try to time how long one worker actually has time for the client or loved one.
Anyway just some tips to help you see that in this world we are organized and pushed to the max for the betterment of the almighty dollar rather than looking at the individual in regards to respectively caring for them.
Migzs Tammy
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI have heard of elder abuse before but I never thought of children with disabilities being abused. This is horrible to hear. I am saddened to hear Kaitlyn's story and am appalled that people could actually do that to another human being. Especially someone so fragile and vulnerable. It does not make sense to me. In my mind you have to be sick to make someone go through that kind of pain. I hope that this is a real eye opener to many people because it was for me. I hope that more people can become aware of this and try and prevent it from keep happening in our society.
ReplyDeleteAlexandra
This post was very disturbing and saddening to me. Abuse is is very common in the world today whether it be spousal abuse, elderly abuse, abuse in schools such as bullying and child abuse. I feel that nobody takes the time to think of the abuse that can go on with people with disabilities because society thinks that these people are taken care of by an actual paid care giver. Society may not think that these people may not have the money to have someone to take care of them, or maybe have had parents who had abandoned them. I feel that there are so many different situations that can lead to this kind of abuse explained in the story with Katlin. I would honestly never think someone would be that cruel to take advantage of someone so helpless and fragile. By means of helpless meaning that they may not be able to defend themselves. But then you need to think of all of the child abuse that goes on in the world today, these young children are not able to defend themselves over a powerful teen or adult. I think people with physical disabilities are neglected in terms of that many people think that they are properly cared for. I also think people neglect the fact that abuse does exist within people with disabilities.
ReplyDeleteAlysha
Wow this is so sad. I think society should really look into the lives of these who are abused. It's not fair that those who are helpless them selves are supposed to be able to have someone to turn to. And it is unfair when that person abuses the relationship wether it be physical, verbal, or even sexual its all wrong. Neglect is probably one of the worst of all.
ReplyDeleteThanks for pointing this out.
- Elysha