A Caring Society?
Valerie Scott talks about a subject that few want to hear about.
In five years the numbers of New Zealanders aged 80-85 will have increased by nearly a half, and within nine years those aged 65-84 will increase by over one quarter. Naturally some will be in full time care.
An elderly woman bled to death at a Christchurch rest home through inaction by two caregivers and a nurse. No first aid was given. The coroner said that earlier discovery of the bleeding and appropriate action could well have prevented the death. He made recommendations on training and certification for caregivers.
Other complaints about elder care relate to under-dressed patients being left on toilets for hours, one even being fed while naked on a commode. Some institutions restrict patients to two incontinence pads per day. This causes rashes which go unreported and untreated. In one rest home, dementia
patients are slapped on the buttocks whenever pads are changed.
Some patients are fed lying down, making it impossible to swallow. Many are given just three or four mouthfuls of food before the meal is taken away. Consequently patients lose weight, many starve. Some become dehydrated because they forget to drink, or fluid is placed beyond their reach.
Such is the shortage of workers that three of five rest home caregivers who were dismissed after physically abusing patients were re-employed as caregivers elsewhere the following day.
These incidents represent the tip of the iceberg.
Action on Elder Abuse was formed by people concerned about the lack of care, neglect and abuse of people in rest homes, hospitals and home care. We hear from relatives of those in care, doctors, nurses and caregivers.
We acknowledge there are many Registered Nurses and Caregivers giving wonderful care in good facilities. But in others neglect and abuse is common.
Many people are afraid to complain. One lively woman in her late 90s in respite care was concerned at the way she was being treated. She was advised by fellow residents not to complain otherwise the caregivers would start hitting her.
Many disabled people in care, such as stroke victims and dementia patients, are physically unable to speak. Their suffering often goes unnoticed.
What is the problem? Most caregivers have little or no training and are rarely supervised. For many, English is their second language and some are illiterate. How can they possibly read a care plan?
A national training standard is essential to lift the profile of caregivers. A national register of caregivers should be compulsory with on-going training required to retain registration.
Action on Elder Abuse aims to change the health and disability system so the needs of those in care are met and their lives enhanced.
Most of all we believe that everyone should be treated with dignity, understanding and respect and not live nor end their lives in fear because they are
dependent, forgetful, frail or incontinent.
Valerie Scott is based in Wellington and is involved with running Action on Elder Abuse, an advocacy organisation.
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