Tag Archives: Older care
Carers’ needs part of bill to ‘transform’ social care
Carers’ needs part of bill to ‘transform’ social care
An aging population is putting pressure on the social care systemThe Welsh government is publishing legislation which will see carers getting the same legal rights to support as the people they look after.
The Social Services Bill will widen the range of people and organisations delivering social services.
It aims to give those in need of support greater choice and more control over the help they receive.
Ministers say it will also give people a say over the care they receive, and control over care budgets.
Under the bill, social workers will have new powers to enter homes and speak to vulnerable adults.
Around 150,000 people a year receive social care in Wales.
How does depression affect the elderly?
Guest Blog from Jason Tucker
Depression can affect anyone regardless of age or gender but it is particularly common in elderly patients. Although the onset of depression is often attributed to specific events, a particular incident or situation may simply be a contributory factor rather than the cause. Whilst a specific event or set of circumstances may contribute to the onset of depression, the illness will manifest itself in the same way regardless of the cause of the trigger. Studies have shown that the brain circuits of patients suffering depression show changes to the way the brain manages mood, appetite, sleeping and behaviour. Whilst depression can be a distinct illness and appear without any other illnesses, patients often develop depression as a result of other illness. Elderly patients may find they develop depression following the onset of another illness but Doctors are often able to treat the depression successfully.
Change in the law is needed to protect vulnerable people
Care workers also deserve better pay and training to prevent future cases of abuse and neglect
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Jonathan Wheeler
- Guardian Professional,
Calls to press ahead with plans to hold corporate bodies – boards, directors and senior managers – to account for any abuse or neglect that is found to have taken place in care homes and hospitals are no surprise. However, all those who work in the sector will know that unlimited fines and criminal sanctions is not enough.
Speaking in parliament last week, Paul Burstow MP, the former care services minister, introduced a new bill to amend the Health and Social Care Act 2008 to include a new offence of corporate neglect. He said the “new law would act as a deterrent” and all health and social care professionals will be hoping this is true. They will also probably be pleased by the apparent pace of change, coming so soon after the findings of the Winterbourne View investigation were published.
As an abuse lawyer who regularly handles claims on behalf of children and vulnerable adults who have been resident in care homes or other institutions, I have heard too many accounts of abuse that for some reason or other have been unheeded by those in charge. This is unacceptable and a change in the law is urgently needed to address this.
