Chan and Jessica
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.
Jessica has worked in the disability sector for more 15 years in various roles, from support worker to coordinator.
Recently, Jessica visited an aged care facility to spend time with her client, a man in his 80s named Chan, to take him out for coffee or whatever he felt like doing that day.
‘The moment I got there the staff were un-attentive and unusually vague,’ Jessica told the Royal Commission. She had arrived for morning tea time. Normally she would take Chan across the street for a coffee, but the staff pressured them to stay in the facility.
Morning tea at the home consisted of ‘poorly cut tasty cheese in huge chunks and a few crackers on the plate’. The residents were served soft drink. Chan told Jessica he would like a coffee, so she politely asked the staff. They barked at her, ‘it's "lemonade time" and he cannot have a coffee’.
Jessica could see that Chan was ‘visibly and incredibly depressed’. ‘This gentleman is incredibly intelligent, he was a professor. He should be allowed a coffee with his morning tea,’ she said.
Following morning tea, residents were wheeled into a room and abandoned, with no magazines, no TV and nothing to do.
‘I asked the staff if we could have a book or magazine to look at, the staff responded with “We don't have any magazines, and we have only one book”.’
At one point Jessica witnessed staff transferring Chan from his toilet chair to a wheelchair using a hoist.
‘I have never seen such poor regard for a person as when they transferred him … The “supports” to leverage him were placed under his arms, and he cannot weight bear at all, so the straps were visibly ripping his arms to the point I said, “Can I help you? I think it's hurting him”. They said “No. this is how we do it”.’
Jessica says Chan would have experienced great pain throughout the procedure.
‘Perhaps it is lack of training, or the culture of the facility – either way, if a client appears in future with a broken or dislocated arm from this place – there would be no surprises to me.
‘It needs to be audited.’
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.