When I became disabled, I looked for someone to help me with cleaning. I found a low-cost service for the disabled. Everything was going great until the woman who was taking my information commented that her “helpers” had stolen most of her family heirlooms, such as they were, little by little. I decided that I’d rather live in filth. If you can’t pay alot, you get very little.

This isn’t so much an issue of quality, to me. Abuse is reported even in well-funded establishments (although, at a lower rate, of course). This is a matter of policy, to me. THIS is exactly why there tends to be ongoing abuse by caretakers before the issue is brought to the public eye – because “internal investigations” MAY result in a termination, but rarely in procedural changes necessary for prevention. It’s only when someone steps outside policy and goes to the police that establishments are forced to make changes, generally.

I see what you’re saying, but I have to wonder what policy changes can be made with prevention in mind? I mean, if you’re already screening and doing background checks (which I’m sure this agnecy did), and you’re limited by budget as to how much you can spend on a new hire….what else is there?

A very good friend of mine was a case manager and advocate for the developmentally disabled here in Illinois. Often, she was frustrated with the individuals providing direct care to her clients. However, she was often just as incapable of making any changes, because her agency was horribly underfunded. Nobody of any quality background or education seems to want to do such a hard job for so little pay.

And so she would go through crackheads, drunks, losers, all the time trying to find somebody that would work for her agency that wasn’t a complete douche. It’s a challenge.

She’s a much happier human now that she’s no longer working there. As someone with a big heart, wanting to make a difference, she finally had to give ti up. Social work nearly drove her to depression, insanity, and grey hair at 27 years old.

If social services drives away quality individuals like my friend because they feel incapable of providing care and real change, then WTF?

If it’s a privately funded agency, then they should be ashamed. And yes, sued seven ways to Sunday…

The sad truth is that agencies which provide for the elderly and developmentally disabled are always the most underfunded. This lack of support trickles down right to the direct care providers.

The goal of these agencies is always to provide the best possible care, with the best intentions….but if you’re only able to pay crumbs to the direct care providers….well, you get what you pay for.

I hope they get sued so hard it puts them three quarters of the way out of business. The publicity of this case should do them in.