Surge in elderly abuse and neglect claims
Sharp rise in reports of suspected care abuse
Source : Sean O’Connor \ Age UK
New figures from the Health and Social Care Information Centre reveal a steep increase in the number of reports of suspected abuse of older people.
In the last year there has been a 28.4% increase in alerts made to councils about abuse to older people.
The newest set of data from the Health and Social Care Information Centre emphasise the need for greater accountability for those providing care in the UK.
With the Care Bill in the committee stage of its parliamentary journey, the new data reveals the extent of the worries around abuse in the UK.
In 2012-13 local authorities received 173,000 alerts relating to the abuse of adults and took 112,000 of these forward as adult safeguarding referrals:
- 60% of these concerned people aged 65 and over
- Of these over 26% related to people aged 85 and over
- Nearly 22% to those aged 75-84 and almost 12% to those aged 65-74
- The remaining 40% of alerts concerned adults of working age (18-64)
Over a quarter of referrals relating to people aged 65 and over (25.8%) related to suspicions of physical abuse and over a third (35.6%) to cases of neglect. In addition to these however just over 18% of cases were of financial abuse, a form of abuse that is often overlooked.
Service users to gain right to independent advocacy through Care Bill
Government amendment would provide right to advocacy when a person needed substantial support in understanding information during care management or safeguarding processes and had no one else to support them.
The Care Bill returns to Parliament next week
Thursday 03 October 2013 22:42
Service users and carers would gain a right to an independent advocate to help them participate in the assessment, support planning or safeguarding process under a government amendment to the Care Bill.
The provision would apply if the person would experience substantial difficulty in understanding, retaining or weighing up relevant information, or in communicating their wishes, and they had no family member or friend to speak up for them.
The amendment – which will be moved by minister Earl Howe when the bill returns to the House of Lords next week – has been strongly welcomed by advocacy leaders, who have campaigned strongly for such a provision.
Public consultation due on supporting carers in Scotland
Scotland has about 657,000 unpaid carers, the Scottish government says
1 October 2013 Last updated at 16:07
The Scottish government wants to hear from the country’s unpaid carers on how they can be better supported.
First Minister Alex Salmond told a meeting of carers at Holyrood that a public consultation would take place on the issue before the end of the year.
Legislation is currently being drafted to improve the well-being of carers.
Scotland has about 657,000 unpaid adult carers, up to 100,000 young carers and many who provide care but who do not identify themselves as carers.
The government said it was keen to improve the lot of carers so they could continue their caring duties while remaining in work and having a life of their own.
It also wanted to prevent or delay hospital or residential care admissions for cared-for people.
