persons with learning disabilities.
Self-advocacy must be ensured regardless of the kind of disability.
Suitable support measures are necessary.
Legislation must be adopted or amended in the individual Laender; apart from a few
exceptions, suitable framework conditions do not exist.
Peer-to-peer sharing of information should be promoted.
2.4.3 Isolation of a resident
Commission 1 found that in a group home for persons with disabilities
there were difficulties in dealing with a certain resident. As a result of
intensive outbursts of aggression, there was an increased risk for
other residents; this was also determined by the attending physician.
As a consequence, a special gate was installed in front of this
resident’s room that prevented him from independently leaving it. In
the workshop, where the residents of the group home worked during
the day, this resident was also isolated from the others by way of this
kind of gate.
Resident was isolated
from other residents
According to information by the clients and the staff, transports
between the group home and the workshop location also presented a
problem. This resident felt cramped and was highly stressed by the
presence of others. The situation escalated. At the same time, other
persons being transported did not feel safe during transport and
reported their fears to the commission. Under these circumstances,
the daily trips to and from the workshop were very difficult for all
participants.
Heightened risk
potential
Directly after the commission’s visit, individual transports from the
group home to the workshop were organised for the resident in
question, which made him feel significantly more comfortable.
Additionally, he was given another room in the group home that had
direct access to a garden, where he can spend time whenever he
wishes. More accompanied walks and more frequent nature outings
to enable him to satisfy the urge to move made it possible to get rid of
the gate in the group home.
Improvements after visit
by commission
In the workshop, the gate was kept in place upon the request of the
person in question, but adapted so that he could open and close it
independently. When he seeks out the retreat room voluntarily and as
determined by him, this is a signal to the others that he wishes to
remain alone and needs quiet.
The commission checked the workshop again during a follow-up visit
and was able to make sure that improvements had been made.
It is preferable to use care measures as opposed to isolation and restrictions of freedom.
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