Article 22 In residential settings, staff have access to the The privacy of older people with disability should be respected – Respect for bodies and personal space of clients, and they in all settings, and especially in residential and institutional privacy often control most, if not all, aspects of their settings. lives. Staff may control, for instance, when residents shower, eat and sleep, what they eat, Residential and institutional settings should revise and amend how they are dressed, who assists them and policies or practices that permit staff to enter the rooms of who they live with. residents without knocking or otherwise respecting the right of residents to privacy. When personal boundaries are consistently invaded by support workers, staff and other Aged care staff and support workers must receive mandatory residents, people with disability may believe training and ongoing professional development on the human they have no right to privacy. This may prevent rights of older people to whom they are providing care. them from reporting these experiences, or other experiences of violence, neglect and exploitation. Article 25 In some cases, boarding house proprietors Older people with disability should be ensured access to – Health employ health professionals to be responsible appropriate health services, including adequate bulk-billing for all of their residents. This means that people services. with disability living in boarding houses are not always afforded a choice in regards to their The health care provided to older people with disability should health professional. be of the same quality or standard as is provided to others. This limits the oversight of boarding house Health professionals should receive mandatory training on practices, and is concerning considering the recognising and responding to elder violence. potential for overmedication or chemical restraint in these settings.
Article 22 – Respect for privacy In residential settings, staff have access to the bodies and personal space of clients, and they often control most, if not all, aspects of their lives. Staff may control, for instance, when residents shower, eat and sleep, what they eat, how they are dressed, who assists them and who they live with. When personal boundaries are consistently invaded by support workers, staff and other residents, people with disability may believe they have no right to privacy. This may prevent them from reporting these experiences, or other experiences of violence, neglect and exploitation. The privacy of older people with disability should be respected in all settings, and especially in residential and institutional settings. Residential and institutional settings should revise and amend policies or practices that permit staff to enter the rooms of residents without knocking or otherwise respecting the right of residents to privacy. Aged care staff and support workers must receive mandatory training and ongoing professional development on the human rights of older people to whom they are providing care. Article 25 – Health In some cases, boarding house proprietors employ health professionals to be responsible for all of their residents. This means that people with disability living in boarding houses are not always afforded a choice in regards to their health professional. This limits the oversight of boarding house practices, and is concerning considering the potential for overmedication or chemical restraint in these settings. Older people with disability should be ensured access to appropriate health services, including adequate bulk-billing services. The health care provided to older people with disability should be of the same quality or standard as is provided to others. Health professionals should receive mandatory training on recognising and responding to elder violence.