Abuses against disabled hit record at care facilities

December 29, 2017

Tokyo- The number of abuses against disabled people in Japan fell three from the previous year to 2,520 in fiscal 2016, but mistreatment cases at care facilities totaled a record 401, according to a welfare ministry survey.

The total number of abuse victims stood at 3,198, down 109. Five died mainly due to abuse, matching the record high marked in fiscal 2013, according to the survey, which started in fiscal 2012.

Of the total cases, 1,538 were committed by family members and other guardians, down 55, followed by 581 attributed to employers and colleagues, down 10, and 401 carried out by workers at facilities for the disabled, up 62.

Many cases involved the mentally retarded, with abuses against such people accounting for 70 pct of all cases at facilities for the disabled.

"The difficulty of making communication (with such people) is one factor," a ministry official said. "We want staff members of care facilities to take a course on how to respond." Jiji Press