Arizona Disability Advocates for Group Home Abuse of People with Cerebral Palsy

Summary

Cerebral palsy causes impairment in motor functions which can range from minor to severe. People with severe impairments of motor functions may need to live in a residential group home because they require assistance with daily functions such as eating, bathing, and dressing, as well as a long-term care plan to foster independence and quality of life. This article discusses the causes and effects of cerebral palsy, and the reasons someone with cerebral palsy would need to live in a group home. It then discusses the duties of group home staff members toward residents with cerebral palsy. Types of abuse and neglect, and their effects, are then outlined.

Arizona Disability Advocates for Group Home Abuse of People with Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is a condition that affects thousands of Americans and limits their ability to move and communicate, and often requires extensive care and treatment in order to carry out daily functions and achieve a high quality of life. Therefore, for many people living with cerebral palsy, living in a residential group home is the best option.

Living in a residential group home provides those living with cerebral palsy with the care they need in order accomplish daily tasks and can also help them learn to function with cerebral palsy and hopefully become more independent over time. Since there is no known cure for cerebral palsy at the present time, living in a group home and learning to live with their disease is currently the best option for many people living with the disease.

When people with cerebral palsy and their families make the decision to enter a group home, they have the right to expect the highest quality of care as well as a compassionate, welcoming environment that will make them feel at home and foster an atmosphere of respect and independence. However, many group home residents unfortunately do not have that experience. Many group homes, in order to cut costs, employ inexperienced and ill-trained staff members and create an environment in which abuse and neglect can occur.

If you or a loved one suffers from cerebral palsy and is a resident of a group home in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, or elsewhere in Maricopa County and have been the victim of abuse or neglect, you should contact an Arizona group home abuse attorney to discuss your case.

About Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is an umbrella term for a group of non-progressive, motor, non-contagious conditions which cause physical disability in human development. Cerebral palsy is caused by damage to the motor control centers of the developing brain during pregnancy, birth, or after birth up to the age of three. Cerebral palsy causes permanent impairment in motor functions, and these impairments can range from minor impairments of certain parts of the body to severe impairments to most or all of the body. This impairment in motor functions may be accompanied by impairment in other areas such as cognition and communication.

Care for Cerebral Palsy in Group Homes

Since people with cerebral palsy have impaired motor functions, as well as possible impairments in cognition and communication, they most likely will rely on group home staff for assistance in daily functions such as eating, bathing, and dressing. In addition to assisting in daily functions, group home staff and administrators should have a plan in place to foster as much independence as is possible for the resident.

Abuse and Neglect of People with Cerebral Palsy

Since many group home residents with cerebral palsy depend on staff members for assistance in daily functions such as eating, bathing, and dressing, it easy for neglect to occur if staff members are not fulfilling their duties. If group home staff members do not follow the resident's Individual Support Plan, group home residents may suffer from malnutrition, dehydration, bed sores, and disease.

Contact an Arizona Group Home Abuse Lawyer

If your child or other loved one has cerebral palsy and is a resident of a group home in Phoenix, Tempe, Scottsdale or elsewhere in Maricopa County, and they have been a victim of abuse or neglect, you should consult with an Arizona group home abuse lawyer to discuss your case. For more information, please visit http://www.grouphomeabuselawyer.com/