The Gerontology Research Centre at Simon Fraser University has posted on its website the videos and PowerPoint presentations from the ‘Taboo Topics in Residential Care’ conference. The conference was held May 27 – 28, 2013 in downtown Vancouver.
Conference topics included difficult to deal with issues such as: resident-to-resident aggression; bullying and abuse; theft; alcohol, other substance abuse, and treatment options for addictions; chemical and physical restraints, segregation, and surveillance of residents who are a danger to others or themselves; sexuality and environmental programs that allow for intimacy between consenting adults; and use and abuse of anti-psychotics and off-label medications. The underlying theme was getting the right balance between protecting people’s human rights and protecting those who need to be protected.
The BC Care Providers Association (BCCPA) is committed to proactively addressing these important issues. For example, in June 2013, the BCCPA released its Best Practices Guide for Safely Reducing Anti-Psychotic Drug Use in Residential Care. Stay tuned for further BCCPA policy and research initiatives on other ‘taboo’ topics.
