HORROR OF ELDER ABUSE NEEDS MULTI-FACETED APPROACH, LIBDEMS TOLD

3.00.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 17th Sep 2007

The full horror of elder abuse is shown by the finding that nearly nine out ten care workers for elderly people have encountered abuse in their work, Liberal Democrat MEP Liz Lynne told a shocked audience in Brighton today.

The conference fringe debate on the crisis of elder abuse was addressed by a top panel of experts on ageing and care chaired by Liz Lynne, Co-chair of the European Parliament's Intergroup on Ageing.

Liz Lynne said: "For too long the subject of elder abuse has been ignored but people are beginning slowly to become aware of it. We need to realise that it is happening all over the UK and indeed the EU. Some of the case histories are horrific.

"Take the story of 84-year-old Iris, who lived in a residential care home, who pleaded for two hours to be taken to the lavatory, but was ignored. She wet herself and when she was eventually taken to the bathroom, she was left there for over an hour as punishment. A young care worker called Iris's daughter when she noticed she had a hole in her back which had gone black. Her daughter called the doctor who had Iris immediately admitted to the hospital. Five days later Iris was dead but despite complaints no action was taken.

"We need more research. We need structures to be in place to ensure abuse is minimised. This includes making sure that the healthcare workforce are trained sufficiently to spot and stop potentially abusive situations."

Paul Cann, Director of Policy and External Relations at Help the Aged said there was a fundamental problem in society that could lead to abuse.

He said: "Older people are seen as different, as 'other,' as people we do not need to treat as fully human. Elder abuse can be an over-neat categorisation, it is a spectrum of behaviour. We need to ask at what point does the strong over-bearing guidance of a son to a parent become abuse?

Ryan Sampson, Assistant Director of Age Concern England, agreed that compared to other social problems, there is still very limited research and evidence on the abuse of elderly people, but it was clearly extremely common.

"Abuse is not just about evil versus good, perpetrator versus victim. People do not want to abuse their parents, but it happens, due to breakdown, crisis and stress."

Sheila Scott, Chief Executive of the National Care Association, representing the independent care sector, agreed that there was a problem in the enforcement of the existing laws: "We welcome prosecutions and want to raise awareness of this issue. We want people to have confidence in the services our members provide."

Shropshire councillor Heather Kidd welcomed the debate and said it was high time the Liberal Democrats took the issue of elder abuse more seriously and hoped that a policy motion would be debated at the next conference. She said: "We really need to make sure that the millions of people who care for relatives are given more support and help, particularly for respite care. People who feel isolated and alone with very demanding relatives are at risk of ending up in abusive situations because they cannot cope."

Liz Lynne added: "One of the main things we suffer from is lack of research in this area. To date there has been no EU-wide study collating and comparing data from across Member States. We desperately need this so that countries can benefit from best practice.

"I welcome the fact the European Commission is to issue a formal communication on elder abuse in early 2008 and hope that this will promote further attention and progress. I also hope that the Federal Conference committee will include my motion in the agenda at the next conference."

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

In recent years it has emerged that a suspected half a million older people in the UK suffer abuse or neglect and in 80% of cases the abuser is known to the victim.

Liz Lynne is Co-chair of the European Parliament's Intergroup on Ageing, Vice-President of the European Parliament's Employment and Social Welfare Committee and the rapporteur on the 2007 Report on Social Protection and Social Inclusion.

Liz Lynne has tabled several parliamentary questions on the subject of ageing. On World Elder Abuse Day, 15th June 2006, Liz Lynne held a conference at the European Parliament with UK Charity Age Concern.

For further information on the organisations taking part:

• National Care Association: http://www.nca.gb.com/

• Age Concern: http://www.ageconcern.org.uk/

• Help the Aged: http://www.helptheaged.org.uk/en-gb