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Questioning Segregation of People Living with Dementia in Australia: An International Human Rights Approach to Care Homes

Author

Listed:
  • Linda Steele

    (Faculty of Law, University of Technology Sydney, P.O. Box 123, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia
    Faculty of Law, Humanities and the Arts, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia)

  • Kate Swaffer

    (Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, School of Nursing, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
    School of Psychology, Social Work and Social Policy, University of South Australia, South Australia 5001, Australia)

  • Lyn Phillipson

    (Faculty of Social Sciences, School of Health and Society, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia)

  • Richard Fleming

    (Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, School of Nursing, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia)

Abstract

This article explores how care homes—and, specifically, their common features such as dementia care units and locked doors and gates—impact on the human rights of people living with dementia. We suggest that congregation, separation and confinement of people living with dementia by the care home built environment constitute ‘segregation’. In the specific context of residential aged care facilities in Australia, we draw on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (‘CRPD’) to frame this segregation as an injustice. We focus on the rights to non-discrimination (Article 5), liberty and security of the person (Article 14), equality before the law (Article 12), accessibility (Article 9), and independent living and community inclusion (Article 19). Our analysis shows that addressing segregation must involve structural and resource reforms that are transformative in bringing about new ways of living and relating to each other. Such reforms are directed towards providing meaningful alternatives and appropriate supports to make choices from a range of alternative residency and support options, and building communities that are free from ableism, ageism and other systems of oppression that contribute to confinement and segregation.

Suggested Citation

  • Linda Steele & Kate Swaffer & Lyn Phillipson & Richard Fleming, 2019. "Questioning Segregation of People Living with Dementia in Australia: An International Human Rights Approach to Care Homes," Laws, MDPI, vol. 8(3), pages 1-26, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlawss:v:8:y:2019:i:3:p:18-:d:257838
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Theresia Degener, 2016. "Disability in a Human Rights Context," Laws, MDPI, vol. 5(3), pages 1-24, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Atiqur sm-Rahman & Chih Hung Lo & Yasmin Jahan, 2021. "Dementia in Media Coverage: A Comparative Analysis of Two Online Newspapers across Time," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-19, October.

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