Faizah: They constantly attacked one another and staff

Tuesday July 7, 2009

Faizah: They constantly attacked one another and staff
By YUEN MEIKENG and ZALINAH NOORDIN

PETALING JAYA: The 40 aggressive residents at the Taman Sinar Harapan welfare home in Kuala Kubu Baru were segregated from others because they constantly attacked one another and even the staff members.

Women, Family and Community Develop- ment Ministry secretary-general Tan Sri Faizah Mohd Tahir said the 30 men and 10 women among the 220 residents had mental disabilities with aggressive tendencies and were separated due to their destructive behaviour to themselves and others. They tear off clothing put on them and blankets are torn to shreds within hours. The remaining 180 residents are bedridden,” she said in a statement.

She added that the home had been operational since 1984 and was the only Taman Sinar Harapan institution out of seven which catered to the severely mentally and physically disabled people aged above 15.

“The attendants at the home have been given basic skills training on how to manage the residents under their care and refer those who are aggressive or need medical attention to the nurses or to the hospital for treatment,” Faizah said.

She added that there was no resident doctor or psychiatrist at the Kuala Kubu Baru home or in any of the other Taman Sinar Harapan shelter homes in the country.

She pointed out that most residents have been abandoned by their families and would have to remain institutionalised for the rest of their lives.

“Caring for and managing people with severe multiple disabilities is challenging and we have to address the multiplicity of the needs and issues involved,” she said, adding that such needs included skilled and qualified personnel in therapy, health and nutrition and the need to work in a multi-disciplinary team approach.

She said the Social Welfare Department welcomed medical and mental health experts who can make a significant difference to the quality of life of residents in Taman Sinar Harapan.

The Sri Sai Baba Centre volunteers, who go to the home every Sunday to clean and feed the residents, said the condition of the centre was better compared to previous times.

A volunteer who wished to be known only as Ravi said he had been volunteering at the institution for the past 10 years.

“This place used to be much worse in the past with residents sleeping on the cement floor and parts of their body covered in dried faeces. It was not as organised as it is now,” he said.

Another volunteer who wanted to be known only as Vasu said: “It’s good that the matter is highlighted. At least now their plight is known and maybe their lives will change after this.”