Tag Archives: carers

Britain has become a ‘neglectful society’, warns care minister

September 4, 2013   Carers, Older care, ukcuts

The demands of modern life have turned Britain into a “neglectful society” in which has become the norm for older people to be left isolated, a minister has warned.

Care cap will only help small minority of elderly, officials admit

Norman Lamb: we have become a neglectful society Photo: Alban Donohoe

By , Social Affairs Editor

8:00AM BST 04 Sep 2013

Norman Lamb, the care minister, said that elderly people are being starved of basic kindness and companionship because of extended family networks, which once underpinned society, have been increasingly dispersed.

Mr Lamb, who is spearheading wide-ranging reforms to the care system, said state intervention would not in itself be enough provide people with the “good life” in their final years unless people “step up” and play a greater part.

Addressing a conference organised by the Alzheimer’s Society in London, he also acknowledged that the home-care system is now so starved of cash that increasingly depends on “exploiting” low-paid carers, often immigrant workers, who “subsidise” their work from their own pocket.

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Almost 300,000 people who suffer dementia only venture outside once a week

September 3, 2013   Alzheimer’s, Carers, dementia

Dementia: hundreds of thousands who rarely go outside

Almost 300,000 people who suffer dementia only venture outside once a week at the most and tens of thousands have given up doing so altogether, a study has found.

 

Hundreds of thousands of dementia sufferers rarely go outside, a study suggests
 

By , Social Affairs Editor

7:00AM BST 03 Sep 2013

Research by the Alzheimer’s Society highlighted how people suffering dementia feel increasingly trapped in their homes because of the difficulties of getting around.

The study called for a radical redesign of Britain’s cities – from shops to public transport – to accommodate growing numbers of people with conditions such as Alzheimer’s as the population ages.

It included a rare poll of dementia sufferers, completed with the help of carers, which found that more than two thirds are reluctant to venture outside for fear of becoming confused and getting lost or difficulties using transport or shops.

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Battle launched to end isolation of rural elderly

September 3, 2013   Carers, Older care, Social care

Facing the problem of social isolation among the elderly in parts of rural North Yorkshire

Steps being taken to try to tackle the problem of social isolation among the elderly in parts of rural North Yorkshire are to be discussed by health chiefs at a meeting this week.

The county has a large number of older people living in the county with an estimated 20.3 per cent of the population of the county aged 65 or over in 2010, compared with a national average of 16.5 per cent.

In Harrogate and its surrounding rural district, health bosses say 27 per cent of the population is aged 60 and over compared to the national average of 22.4 per cent. With figures for the over-65s in this part of the county set to rise by 19 per cent by 2021, health chiefs will meet this week to discuss a project that aims to tackle the issue.

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