A PROJECT AGAINST VIOLENCE WITHIN CARE RELATIONSHIPS

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A PROJECT AGAINST VIOLENCE WITHIN CARE
RELATIONSHIPS Loredana Ligabue Technical
Coordinator
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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
vs
vs
vs
FAMILY CARERS
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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

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PART ONE RESULTS OF INTERVIEWS
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FROM INTERVIEWS TO LOCAL ACTORS

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

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• 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 dont have any
  rights
• Violation of RIGHTS day off or holidays denied
  (45 of cases), inadequate board and lodging
  (24)
• They didnt gave me enough food
• I didnt have my own room, I slept with the old
  lady..
• FINANCIAL Violence Employers dont pay the
  social security or they dont 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

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• 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

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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

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PART TW0 RESULTS OF GROUP WORKS
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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

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PROCEDURES AND GUIDELINES
Proposal of guidelines to coordinate
interventions among social, health, employment,
training services
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AWARENESS RISING CAMPAIGN
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