You Can Prevent Abuse!

Studies have shown that 93% of caregivers have seen or heard of a client being mistreated by a family member or a co-worker.  You and your co-workers have to work together to prevent abuse. Here is what you can do:

ALWAYS:

• Let your supervisor know if your client’s family members seem stressed out.  (Abuse is more likely to happen when people are stressed.  Your supervisor may have some suggestions for community resources to help the family members.)
• Remember that clients from different cultures may communicate their needs in different ways.  Listen to your clients with both your eyes and your ears.
• Know your own limits.  If you feel over stressed, talk it over with your supervisor.
• Remember that ANGER is just one letter short of DANGER!  Breathe deeply and count to ten if you feel yourself losing your temper during client care.
• Tell your supervisor if you find yourself unable to handle a specific client.  It may be that more training will help.  (For example, an in-service on Alzheimer’s disease may help you understand and deal with Alzheimer’s clients better.)
• Be a model of professional behavior for your co-workers.

NEVER:

• Keep quiet if the abuser is a co-worker.  While it may seem like you are “squealing” on a co-worker, if you stay quiet, you could be guilty of neglect yourself.  You will be helping both the client and the co-worker if you speak up.
• Take your personal problems out on the clients.  Leave your problems at home.
• Let “difficult” clients get the better of you.  Treat everyone with kindness, respect, and lots of patience!
• Threaten or make fun of a client.  Don’t appear to approve by just standing quietly by while a co-worker does it, either.
• “Freak out” if a client or family member accuses you of abuse when you know you didn’t do anything wrong.  Discuss the situation with your supervisor, telling him or her all the facts.