Shimane reports number of abuse of disabled by family members last year, lowest since records began

From NHK

January 31 2024

Shimane Pref – Last year, the number of cases in which people with disabilities were abused by family members in Shimane Prefecture was seven, the lowest since statistics began being kept, and the prefecture hopes to further prevent abuse by strengthening its systems.

Shimane Prefecture has compiled the number of consultations and reports received by municipalities last year regarding people with disabilities being abused by their families and other caregivers.

According to the report, a total of 24 consultations and reports were received, and seven of these were confirmed to be abuse.

This is one fewer cases than the previous year, and the lowest since 2013, when statistics began.

On the other hand, the number of consultations and reports regarding people being abused at facilities increased by 10 from the previous year to 24, and 6 of these cases were considered abuse.

This is one more case than the previous year, and Shimane Prefecture and municipalities within the prefecture have required facilities to submit plans to prevent recurrence and have provided guidance.

Shimane Prefecture has analyzed that as awareness of abuse prevention has spread, awareness of early detection has increased among prefectural residents, leading to an increase in reports and consultations in cases of suspected abuse. During the pandemic, most of the training was conducted online, but from now on, we will increase the number of in-person training sessions where staff members gather together to share their issues and concerns and consider responses, in an effort to strengthen the system to prevent abuse.