Arizona Disability Advocates for Group Home Abuse Against People with Physical Disabilities
There are several reasons that someone may live in a residential group home. One of the most common reasons is severe physical disabilities. People with severe physical disabilities, such as quadriplegia, paraplegia, Spinal Cord Injury (SCI), or head trauma, may need to live in a group home because they need assistance with daily living functions in addition to physical therapy and other medical treatments.
When people with physical disabilities enter a group home, they and their families place enormous trust in the group home facility, its administration, and its staff. It is a group home’s responsibility to employ a highly-trained, compassionate staff which can attend to each resident’s individual needs and also treat them with dignity and respect and promote the highest quality of life possible for each resident.
If a group home or its employees violates its duty to provide high-quality, individualized care to residents with severe physical disabilities, they may be guilty of neglect or abuse. If you are a group home resident with physical disabilities, or you have a family member who is a group home resident, and you believe neglect or abuse is taking place, you should contact an Arizona group home abuse lawyer.
Types of Physical Disabilities
There are many types of severe physical disabilities which may require residence in a group home. Some of the most common include:
- • Paraplegia – impairment in sensory and/or motor functions in the lower extremities
- • Quadriplegia – impairment in the sensory and/or motor functions in all four extremities
- • Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) – damage to the neurons that carry signals from the brain to parts of the body, which can result in complete or partial loss of motor function
- • Traumatic Brain Injury – Severe injury to the head and brain, which can result in impairment or total loss of motor function
When a resident with severe physical disabilities enters a group home, the group home administration, in consultation with the resident, the resident’s family, and any doctors or specialists, should draw up an Individual Support Plan or Individual Service Plan (ISP). The ISP outlines the individualized care that should be provided to the resident. This includes medications, physical therapy activities, and anything else that is needed to care for the resident’s injuries and promote a high quality of life.
In addition to following the ISP, the group home must also follow all state-mandated procedures for properly caring for a group home resident, including proper nutrition and proper housing.
Types of Abuse and Neglect
If a group home is not following through on its duties to a resident, it may be guilty of abuse or neglect. Common types of abuse and neglect include:
- Malnutrition
- Dehydration
- Medication errors
- Bed sores
- Verbal abuse
- Inadequate facilities
- Neglect of Individual Service Plan
Contact an Arizona Group Home Abuse Lawyer
If you or a loved one have a severe physical disability and are a resident of a group home in Phoenix, Tempe, Scottsdale or elsewhere in Maricopa County, and you suspect that abuse or neglect is taking place, you should consult with an Arizona group home abuse lawyer to discuss your case. For more information, please visit http://www.grouphomeabuselawyer.com/
