23 November 2011 Last updated at 08:17
One of the common complaints was a lack of help the elderly were given eating and drinking
By Nick Triggle Health correspondent, BBC News
Basic care for the elderly in their own homes in England is so bad it breaches human rights at times, an inquiry says.
The home care review by the Equality and Human Rights Commission highlighted cases of physical abuse, theft, neglect and disregard for privacy and dignity.
It said on many occasions support for tasks such as washing and dressing was “dehumanising” and left people “stripped of self-worth”.
The findings have added weight to calls for a complete overhaul of the system.
Campaigners described the situation as “shameful”, while councils, which are in charge of providing such services, said without urgent reform services would just get worse.
A Dundee PhD student has developed a computer program that helps dementia sufferers communicate with their carer.
Dr Gemma Webster, 25, created software that holds a “multimedia biography” of the patient which carers can access through a touchscreeen.
The computing researcher said it would help busy care staff learn about the people they were looking after.
Research Councils UK has awarded Dr Webster £10,000 to help promote her “Portrait” project.
The software holds a digital timeline of key events in a patient’s life, along with a family tree and other personal information.
SHOCK figures have revealed more than half of households in some areas of Newcastle are trapped in fuel poverty.
And the number is set to rise as temperatures plummet and fuel prices rocket, forcing some to chose between heating or eating.
In Elswick, 52% of households struggle to pay bills according to information released today by campaign group Consumer Focus and the Citizen’s Advice Bureau.
