Regarding Lakeport”s Lisa Lewis” letter “Who holds caregivers responsible?” Apparently, Lisa Lewis has witnessed two people, one developmentally disabled and one an obvious caregiver. Unless she knows the caregiver, how did she determine the person was as stated and not a relative or friend?
It is irresponsible to treat the incident as an excuse to make a blanket declaration regarding all or even most caregivers/respite workers. I have a daughter attending vital classes at People Services in the City of Clearlake.
The attention to learning she receives there is excellent, to say the least. Further, she has a respite worker from that agency accompanying her to a casino once or twice a month. This activity is at the request of my daughter who thoroughly enjoys playing the slot machines with her caregiver.
I would never approve of her caregiver sitting idly by and simply staring at my daughter playing alone. This would result in negative and stigmatizing attention toward my daughter. I want the caregiver to participate in activities with my daughter such as she does when they attend movies, live theater, meetings and dinner outings. The bond between my daughter and her caregiver is warm and strong and I could not ask for a better respite situation.
As for “Who holds caregivers responsible?”, People Services ? Clearlake does and as a responsible parent, I do. I believe there is more good than bad in this sensitive field of work and I salute the work of People Services and their excellent, caring staff who work in a field so difficult many people would choose to ignore it.
Linda Conway
Clearlake
