A PROJECT AGAINST VIOLENCE WITHIN CARE RELATIONSHIPS

Loredana Ligabue Technical Coordinator

AIM OF THE PROJECT:

Action research aimed to prevent and deal with violence (physical, sexual, psychological, financial,

gender…)provoked and suffered by:

IN HOME PAID CAREGIVERS ELDERLY

FAMILY CARERS

vs

vs vs

ACTIVITIES AND OUTCOMES:

52 qualitative interviews

8 focus groups 2 Final workshops A training course

for professionals

A report containing the transcriptions of all the interviews (280 pages)

1 glossary of violence – related terms

3 analytical reports The training course

report 13 newsletters

PART ONE: RESULTS OF INTERVIEWS

FROM INTERVIEWS TO LOCAL ACTORS

 219 cases were reported that can be considered as an abuse occurred in a care relationship

Offenders

41%

33%

26%

In-home caregiver vs.elderly

Family carers vs. in-home caregiver

Elderly vs. in-homecaregiver

AGAINST THE IN HOME CAREGIVER: EG. OF VIOLENCE

PHYSICAL Violence: abuses, aggressions, sexual harrassments

The elderly husband beat me, they had to call the ambulance…

He (the elderly) came in the bed with me… PSYCHOLOGICAL Violence: Impositions of forced work like “I pay so you

must…”, segregation, threats, ethnic or social insults, privacy violations...

We pay you so you obey… you don’t have any rights Violation of RIGHTS: day off or holidays denied (45% of cases),

inadequate board and lodging (24%)

They didn’t gave me enough food

I didn’t have my own room, I slept with the old lady..… FINANCIAL Violence: Employers don’t pay the social security or they

don’t respect the minimum salary foreseen by the national contract for in-home caregivers

In the pay roll it is written that I worked 25 hours a week but in fact I worked 24 hours a day

AGAINST THE ELDERLY : EG. OF VIOLENCE

PHYSICAL Violence (actions and negligence): physical mistreatements (30%) inadequate care interventions, scarce hygiene, malnutrition, dehydratation, abandonment (40%)

She (the caregiver) yanked, jostled or strongly bound her (the elderly) …

She (the caregiver) put her in the bed with the edges and then she went out

PSYCOLOGICAL Violence: verbal abuses, lack of social relations

It really was a manipulation situation …

She wanted the elderly to marry her … FINANCIAL Violence: petty thefts, money or jewellery embezzlement,

signed cheques obtained with deceit

There have been huge deficit from the current account Violation of RIGHTS: blackmailing

If you want me to keep on working you have to pay me more

FROM LOCAL ACTORS...

69% of interviews reports alcoholism problems among the in home caregivers and a wide use of psychodrugs

78% points out problems linked to cognitive pathologies (mainly dementia) as elements that can become risk factors

43% of interviews highlights the absence of a social network

Many interviews report working stress conditions as the main factor that negatively influences the caregiving process

25% of interviews detects some elements that can be considered as illegal job placement

PART TW0: RESULTS OF GROUP WORKS

PRIORITIES & PROPOSALS TO PREVENT ABUSE WITHIN CARE

RELATIONSHIPS

•In home caregivers must be trained

•The work of in-home caregivers should be regulated as far as working hours and duties are concerned

•Families should be supported by local social services in the recruitment of their in-home caregiver, their needs should be assessed and an adequate service---mix should be provided

PROCEDURES AND GUIDELINES

Proposal of guidelines to coordinate interventions among social, health, employment, training services

TO PREVENT ABUSE AND VIOLENCE

TO OVERCOME THE ISOLATION AND TO PROMOTE MUTUAL RECEPTION

TO ENSURE THE RESPECT OF THEIR DIGNITY AND RIGHTS

TO QUALIFY CARE WORKERS AND DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE

AWARENESS RISING CAMPAIGN