Do we just not care about the disabled in Ireland?

franktheplank

In a year when there has been so much media attention on abuse of the vulnerable, how can we still live in a country where there is no regulation protecting the disabled here from abuse?

I mean I get that, of course, there will be debate about funding for this health service and that health service, but surely it's an absolute basic that care homes should be inspected and regulated. FFS!

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2012/0817/1224322324194.html

sfwcork

Im afraid that they appear to have little voice.v sad state of affairs when the disabled or elderly are fooked over just to pay the bankers.

Ronan H

franktheplank wrote: »

In a year when there has been so much media attention on abuse of the vulnerable, how can we still live in a country where there is no regulation protecting the disabled here from abuse?

I mean I get that, of course, there will be debate about funding for this health service and that health service, but surely it's an absolute basic that care homes should be inspected and regulated. FFS!

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2012/0817/1224322324194.html

Regulation and inspection is coming.

I know they have been saying that for five years now, but I believe it's actually coming this time. HIQA have just published new Draft National Standards for Residential Services for People with Disabilities.

http://hiqa.ie/standards/social/people-with-disabilities

There are major drives in agencies across the country to work towards HIQA compliance in the next twelve months.

It is, as they say, about time.

Edit: Don't pay too much heed to the sensationalist rubbish you see in the newspapers. It's always designed to shock. The vast majority of people with disabilities in Ireland are taken care of very well. They will always blow the minority of cases out of proportion in the tabloids...

Further Edit: ...oh wait, no, it's the Irish Times.

franktheplank

Ronan H wrote: »

Regulation and inspection is coming.

I know they have been saying that for five years now, but I believe it's actually coming this time. HIQA have just published new Draft National Standards for Residential Services for People with Disabilities.

http://hiqa.ie/standards/social/people-with-disabilities

There are major drives in agencies across the country to work towards HIQA compliance in the next twelve months.

It is, as they say, about time.

I'll believe it when I see it. They also published draft national standards five or six years back, again supposedly as a precursor to inspection and regulation.

About a year ago the minister with responsibility promised there would be inspection within a year, guess what we're now told another year.

I read an interesting article from one of the advocacy groups not too long back. Twenty years they've been calling for regulation. It happened for children's services, what ten years ago or more?

Based on statistics I would say it's pretty certain there are people being abused in Irish care homes right now and we're doing **** all to protect them.

franktheplank

Ronan H wrote: »

Edit: Don't pay too much heed to the sensationalist rubbish you see in the newspapers. It's always designed to shock. The vast majority of people with disabilities in Ireland are taken care of very well. They will always blow the minority of cases out of proportion in the tabloids...

I've no doubt many are being well looked after. But statistically people with disabilities are far more likely to suffer physical and sexual abuse and neglect.

You've said the vast majority are being well looked after. So given that there's about ten thousand in care, what's the small minority? Fifty? A hundred? Grand?

Ronan H

franktheplank wrote: »

I'll believe it when I see it. They also published draft national standards five or six years back, again supposedly as a precursor to inspection and regulation.

About a year ago the minister with responsibility promised there would be inspection within a year, guess what we're now told another year.

I read an interesting article from one of the advocacy groups not too long back. Twenty years they've been calling for regulation. It happened for children's services, what ten years ago or more?

Based on statistics I would say it's pretty certain there are people being abused in Irish care homes right now and we're doing **** all to protect them.

Yeah I know they have been banging on about it for years. I work in the area and things are different now (compared to when the initial publication was made years ago) in terms of how people are reacting to the new standards and preparing for the regulation and inspection process.

There is definitely a serious movement and activity going on within the field of Social Care at present in relation to this. It's completely different to how it was the last time there was a draft.

But I see your point, it is hard to believe it will come in seeing as it has taken so long, but looking at it from the inside, it looks promising.

franktheplank

Ronan H wrote: »

Yeah I know they have been banging on about it for years. I work in the area and things are different now (compared to when the initial publication was made years ago) in terms of how people are reacting to the new standards and preparing for the regulation and inspection process.

There is definitely a serious movement and activity going on within the field of Social Care at present in relation to this. It's completely different to how it was the last time there was a draft.

But I see your point, it is hard to believe it will come in seeing as it has taken so long, but looking at it from the inside, it looks promising.

I worked in the area until a year or so ago, so I'm aware of the inside view. For me I just couldn't hack the poor standards and lack of accountability. But maybe the place you work is fine.

We've been promised this regulation for an awful long time and you'll excuse me but i've heard before that there's 'activity going on'.

Ronan H

franktheplank wrote: »

statistically people with disabilities are far more likely to suffer physical and sexual abuse and neglect.

Far more likely than who? People without disabilities? Of course they are. The context is critical when figures start being thrown around the place.

What about vulnerable children who are addicted to drugs at the age of ten, whose parents are both similarly addicted, living in complete poverty etc. etc.

Figures like what the IT has quoted are easy to come by, so I don't pay much heed to them. I'm sure you could find similar figures that apply to children if you read enough journal articles.

Ronan H

franktheplank wrote: »

I worked in the area until a year or so ago, so I'm aware of the inside view. For me I just couldn't hack the poor standards and lack of accountability. But maybe the place you work is fine.

Well as I mentioned above, context is critical. And yes it is possible that the places I have worked are fine, so that gives me a different context than you, which I accept.

Don't give up hope on it. I think it will happen.

franktheplank

Ronan H wrote: »

Far more likely than who? People without disabilities? Of course they are. The context is critical when figures start being thrown around the place.

What about vulnerable children who are addicted to drugs at the age of ten, whose parents are both similarly addicted, living in complete poverty etc. etc.

Figures like what the IT has quoted are easy to come by, so I don't pay much heed to them. I'm sure you could find similar figures that apply to children if you read enough journal articles.

Yes people without disabilities, that's pretty clear and there is very little room for context there?

I'll agree with you that I generally don't like the Irish Times either, but there are very few figures 'bandied' about in that article, which figures are you referring to?

franktheplank

Ronan H wrote: »

Don't give up hope on it. I think it will happen.

I really hope it does, but it is incredible at this stage and there have been so many empty promises.

admiralofthefleet

a barman in the hotel on arklow main street was telling me that he got a letter from the council saying the sandwich boards outside where a hazard to people in wheel chairs (they never bothered to mention blind people) but if the hotel paid an annual fee of €600 the council would then have no objections to the boards
so like, they are a hazard but give us 600 and we dont mind, the disabled people can shag off