Pete and Gerry
Content Warning: These stories are about violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation and may include references to suicide or self-harming behaviours. They may contain graphic descriptions and strong language and may be distressing. Some narratives may be about First Nations people who have passed away. If you need support, please see Contact & support.
Gerry is non-verbal and his ability to understand spoken language is limited. He lives in a group home and spends most of the time in bed. Gerry’s brother, Pete, is his legal guardian.
A few years ago, Pete told the Royal Commission, he noticed a change in Gerry’s behaviour. He had mood swings and would lash out and become combative when people providing support touched him.
Gerry also stopped eating and drinking. Staff told Pete that Gerry was ‘looking to end his life’.
This new behaviour continued for about two months – when they discovered Gerry had a fractured hip and was in severe pain. The hip had been fractured for all that time. The fracture was so bad Gerry needed a hip replacement.
Pete wanted to understand how and when the fracture happened and asked to see an incident report, but no incident had been reported.
It made no sense to Pete that a ‘bed bound, non-verbal person’ could end up with a ‘severely fractured hip’ without there being some kind of incident.
Pete was told it was a ‘pathological injury’ (caused by disease). He requested tests, and the results clearly stated Gerry ‘was at no risk of fractures’.
Pete complained to all his contacts including the group home provider and the ombudsman. A limited internal investigation was conducted but it made no determinations about where or how the injury happened.
Pete is concerned Gerry’s injury may have been caused by abuse or neglect and he feels disillusioned.
‘From all the investigations I’ve done − the complaints I’ve made, the service providers have more rights than the disabled people who live in these homes.’
He worries about people in Gerry’s situation who don’t have a strong advocate.
‘What if my brother didn’t have a determined person like me? Where would he be now?’
Disclaimer: This is the story of a person who shared their personal experience with the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability through a submission or private session. The names in this story are pseudonyms. The person who shared this experience was not a witness and their account is not evidence. They did not take an oath or affirmation before providing the story. Nothing in this story constitutes a finding of the Royal Commission. Any views expressed are those of the person who shared their experience, not of the Royal Commission.