Elderly neglected in their homes

Friday, 09 December 2011

Thousands of pensioners are being abused and neglected in their own homes by cruel staff employed to care for them, a damning report has found.

In some cases, vulnerable elderly people are left wanting to die because their treatment is so poor.

The landmark study, by the Equality and Human Rights Commission has exposed appalling physical abuse and carers stealing money from their frail patients.

Tragic examples

It also uncovered tragic examples of neglect - including a 76-year-old cancer victim struggling to heat her food while her able-bodied helper, 32, claimed health and safety rules prevented her from using the microwave.

Another patient was put to bed at 2.45pm, while dementia sufferers dropped dangerously low in weight as staff refused to help them with their meals.

The Commission also revealed a woman was left stuck on the toilet in her bathroom as her care worker said she was too busy completing the list of care tasks to help her.

A daughter of one neglected pensioner told the study: ‘’these small acts of cruelty are being enacted, possibly unthinkingly, every day.’’

Shockingly, the study found many of the victims do not complain for fear of repercussions. It also accused councils of being guilty of age discrimination by spending less on services for pensioners than they would for younger adults with similar needs.

One in three local authorities has already cut back on home care spending and a further one in five plans to do so within the next year.

There are concerns that care staff do not take their role seriously, with their low hourly rate and status undermining their responsibility to vulnerable people.

A high turnover of staff as a result of these factors has a negative impact on the quality of care given to older people. It claims very few local authority contracts for home care specify that the provider must comply with the Human Rights Act - with around 84 per cent of home care supplied by the private or voluntary sector.

The inquiry has now called for the government, Care Quality Commission and local authorities to work together to build human rights in home care and deal with abuse quickly and more effectively. It also wants to remove a legal loophole in the Human Rights Act which would give proper protection to the growing number of older people receiving home care from private and voluntary sector agencies.

Sally Greengross, commissioner for the EHRC, said: “It is essential that care services respect people’s basic human rights.

Protecting people

‘’This is not about burdensome red tape, it is about protecting people from the kind of dehumanising treatment we have uncovered.

‘’The emphasis is on saving pennies rather than providing a service which will meet the very real needs of our grandparents, our parents, and eventually all of us.

‘’Most of us will want to carry on living in our own homes later in life, even if we need help to do so.

‘’When implemented, the recommendations from this inquiry will provide secure foundations for a home care system that will let us do so safely, with dignity and independence.’’