Seimas Ombudsperson Erika Leonaitė published a report on the situation in the Macikai social care home. It is the largest social care home in Lithuania, with a current number of 340 residents. In 2020, during the inspection of this care home, a number of deficiencies were identified, testifying insufficient compliance with human rights protection standards. As a result, 44 recommendations were made to eliminate these deficiencies. Taking this into account, the Seimas Ombudsperson initiated a follow-up inspection, during which the implementation of the presented recommendations was evaluated.
“When talking about the provision of services to people with psychosocial or intellectual disabilities, it is necessary to emphasize that the fundamental priority, in order to ensure human rights-based services, must be deinstitutionalization. Institutional care must be replaced by services provided in the community and tailored to the individual, enabling his/her autonomy and life in society. On the other hand, we cannot ignore the fact that there is a big number of social welfare institutions operating in Lithuania, therefore monitoring the conditions in these institutions is an important area of activity of the Seimas Ombudspersons’ Office as an institution for the national prevention of torture”, said Erika Leonaitė.
The results of the follow-up inspection at the Macikai social care home revealed many positive changes, indicating that most of the recommendations had been implemented. For example, the practice of using physical restraints on agitated residents, which is extremely critical from the point of view of human rights, has been abandoned, and the need to solve difficult situations by talking, allowing the person to calm down, is emphasized. Compared to 2020, when even self-made restraints were found, and the procedure for their application was assessed as potentially equivalent to inhumane and degrading treatment, this is a very significant change. Residents of the social care home have been given the opportunity to submit their preferences regarding the menu, the interviewed residents rated the quality of food provided to them positively; moreover, kitchenettes in the social care home buildings were installed. Training is organized for employees on protection of the rights of persons with mental and behavioral disorders.
It is true that some of the recommendations were only partially implemented. For example, due to the high workload and lack of time, insufficient attention is paid to the employment of residents, people who cannot go outside without help are not taken outside often enough, personal hygiene procedures for people who cannot get out of bed are sometimes performed by employees in a hurry, without respecting the dignity and privacy of the person (procedures are carried out in in front of other residents). A large number of living rooms remain unindividualized and minimally furnished. Due to this fact these rooms resemble more of hospital wards than permanent living environments.
“I hope that the observations made on things to be improved as well as new recommendations presented in the report will encourage further improvement of conditions not only in the Macikai social care home, but also in similar institutions,” Erika Leonaitė concluded.
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