Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has determined that ‘Megumi’, a major group home management company for people with disabilities, was overcharging food costs from residents. It was revealed on January 17th, through interviews with related parties, that the government has recommended that a report be submitted by the end of this month.
Tottori Prefecture announced that in fiscal year 2022, there were 38 consultations regarding abuse of persons with disabilities reported within the prefecture (45 in the previous year). Of these, six cases (compared to nine cases last year) were confirmed as cases where the victim had suffered or was suspected of having been abused.
With regard to why the report came in so late, the director and others apparently said they had been busy dealing with a cluster of COVID-19 infections and moving into a new place, while one worker stated, “I didn’t have the courage to speak out about it.”
According to the announcement, on the morning of September 11th last year, a staff member dipped a spoon in boiling water and applied it to about 10 areas of the resident, including his back and legs, causing burns. He said he was angry that he was covered in urine from a resident who had tried to go to the bathroom the night before and didn’t make it in time. The resident has already made a full recovery. The prefecture will conduct an on-site inspection of the facility in accordance with the Act on Prevention of Abuse of Persons with Disabilities in the new year.
A 27-year-old employee of a support facility for people with disabilities in Miyazaki City was arrested on the night of December 22nd on suspicion of assault after allegedly punching a resident in his 50s this month. Miyazaki City has revealed that this employee has been confirmed to have committed abusive behavior towards a total of five residents, and has decided to issue administrative guidance to the facility in the future.
The Japanese government plans to promote the sharing of information on child abuse in real time between child consultation centers and police.
The measure, aimed at avoiding delays in responses to serious incidents due to lack of cooperation, will be taken as the extent of information-sharing varies by region.
A 27-year-old employee of a support facility for people with disabilities in Miyazaki City was arrested on the night of December 22nd on suspicion of assault after allegedly punching a resident in his 50s this month.
Miyazaki City has revealed that this employee has been confirmed to have committed abusive behavior towards a total of five residents, and has decided to issue administrative guidance to the facility in the future.
Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare announced on December 20th that the number of cases of abuse against people with disabilities confirmed by prefectures and municipalities in fiscal 2022 was 3,079, an increase of 386 from the previous year, setting a new record high. The incident appears to have come to light partly because the government is requiring businesses to take measures to prevent abuse through the revision of remuneration for disability welfare services.
On 15th December, the Osaka Prefectural Police arrested the manager (32) of a welfare facility for the disabled in Kaizuka City, Osaka Prefecture, on suspicion of assaulting a 48-year-old woman by dragging her and knocking her to the floor. He denies the charge, saying he dragged the woman but made a slight mistake in the part where he knocked her to the floor. The police will investigate the possibility that he may have assaulted the woman and other users.
The suspect is alleged to have assaulted a woman near the entrance of the facility at around 9am on 12th December, grabbing her hands, dragging her inside the facility and knocking her to the floor.
Barrier Free Japan