Need your help, Litizens

[BlackShanglan]

I second Lucky's advice: make sure that you've got your criteria as specific and measurable as possible. It may be a tedious chore to enumerate it all and to come up with measures, but without those you'll be in for months and years of stonewalling over the term "to the best of their ability."

Might it be worth creating a subsection where you detail that which is outright illegal in terms of the crmininal code and identify which statutes and laws those behaviors contravene? That would both let the institutions know that you've done your homework and help those who wish to complain about mistreatment to specifically identify the laws being broken when making a complaint to police. It may also - by suggesting clearly to providers that complaints to police are on the menu - encourage greater compliance with the more egregious offenses, like endangering a client's safety while committing a crminial offence (buying drugs). I don't know what the laws are in your jurisdiction, but extorting funds with menaces (including threatening to withdraw needed services), receiving money by fraudulent means, and theft by deception are charges I've seen used in the past on persons preying on the vulnerable, either physically or mentally so. You might also consider the fact that, if you're in the United States, some of your patients may be using Medicare and/or Medicaid money to pay for some services. If this is the case, fraudulent claims - including claiming to supply a service that is not truly being provided - might also give you a legal toehold: i.e., accusing them of providing so low a standard of service as to represent fraudulent claims of care.

Naturally, you'll want to work within the welfare and social services system to also ensure that they are providing the services needed to an acceptable standard. But if you need to motivate individual operators, letting them know that in extreme cases the police may also be called in - and letting your people know how to do it - is also worth a shot.

A last note; be sure that you know precisely what your limitations are. The Americans with Disabilities Act has in the past been interpreted to mean that "appropriate care" does not necessarily mean "best possible care." Check up on the local history of enforcement and know what will and will not fly, particularly on tricky ground like respect for preferences and maximizng liberty at the possible risk of lawsuits - which, I think, you're right in identifying as a major source of inertia and unwillingness to institute more active programs.

Shanglan

 

[gauchecritic]

It isn't necessarily the professional or volunteer carers. Sometimes it is their own family members.

Og

Lots of times it's not being able to cope either immediately or after years of caring.


Here's an idea of persuasion that could possibly sway local politicians.

Mention the fact that they can save the tax payer a hell of a lot of money and have a quite steady supply of job trained competent care workers by enforcing legislation and thereby affording a less miserable learning curve for the families of disabled, who would then possibly take positions in the caring field after years of practical experience rather than be a drain on the economy by not being able to care because they have severe physical and emotional problems due to the shitty care practices which exist now.

Just a thought.

 

[impressive]

.....

 

[BlackShanglan]

Amen.

In fact, while I was in Milwaukee last week, I met a young mother struggling to cope with twin sons recently diagnosed with autism. She was shell shocked and totally stressed out by the intensity of care they required -- and they didn't even have any physical disabilities or complex medical issues. We talked through lunch (and I missed the good, free food *sigh*) ... but I think she was in a better place by the time we finished.

Being on your guard 24/7 is very, very draining ... and knowing there's no end in sight can make even the most stable person come unglued. That is why competent direct care staff are so, so critical.

Amen. And counselling and support of the emotional variety as well. It's not just a 24/7 job that requires constant attention; it's also a close family member who may never be able to express affection in the ways the carer is accustomed to seeing it. That's damned scary to a young parent; it feels like there will never be a loving relationship. Add that on top of the constant demands for care and attention and you've got people pushed near to despair - or well into it.