Abuse and Neglect of the Elderly Needs To STOP

More and more, we are reading of care home residents being abused by the very people there to 'care for them'. The very people we entrust with the care of our elderly parents and relatives.

Real horror stories of sickening violent and verbal abuse, along with the abuse of malnourishment, residents laying in their own excrement and urine or maybe prolonged periods of unnecessary pain. All a far way away from the glossy brochures and websites depicting a safe and caring environment for our loved ones to spend their latter years.

Please sign the petition below to make this a criminal offence

Now, we know there are way more good than bad out there, but the hard fact is this, cases of abuse are on the rise. A quick search on google for Care Home Abuse Cases UK and your faced with shocking stories like that of a woman being 'dragged around like a rag doll', an elderly gentleman repeatedly slapped, a 93 year old woman being paraded naked. The list goes on!

Only last week we shared an article on social media where an undercover reporter went inside an upmarket care home in the UK with some incredible findings. It's happening on a regular basis!

In the age of technology we live in, why can't the relatives of the patient/resident have remote access to CCTV via the internet so they can check on their well-being at any time? We read stories of hidden cameras placed by relatives to catch the 'sick' perpetrators of these acts, but what if they were constantly being monitored from every angle? Surely prevention is better than cure?

A recent survey found that a third of adults with an elderly relative in care would consider using a 'secret camera' to film the behaviour of staff caring for them. The best care homes should make it standard as a 'safety first' selling point to potential residents and as a deterrent to these vile people who pray on vulnerable residents in their care homes.

What potential solutions would you like to see implemented? Leave a comment below.

What about a zero tolerance approach?

As AgeUK quote in their fact sheet Safeguarding older people from abuse and neglect - Any form of abuse or neglect is unacceptable, no matter what justification or reason may be given for it.

What about the following 'and carries a minimum sentence of'. If carers (no sorry, these are not carers), if those found guilty of abuse or neglect are guaranteed some level of prison sentence, then perhaps they'll think twice before acting like some bully to a cowering animal.

Not Just Care Homes

Abuse cases like these are not just happening in care homes, they are common in domestic situations and hospitals too. According to Action on Elder Abuse* (AEA), over 500,000 older people are abused each year in the UK. A staggering statistic, half a million of the UK's most vulnerable people.

We would like you to get involved so we can keep adding to this page to highlight this issue. Please comment below or share on your social media pages!

* AEA - Action On Elder Abuse

More than 500,000 older people are abused each year in the United Kingdom. A majority of the victims are over the age of 70. They are vulnerable, frail and often unable to defend themselves. Action on Elder Abuse is the only organisation in the UK working exclusively on this issue. With your help and donations they can continue to raise awareness of elder abuse, prevent it from happening and offer support to victims.

Action on Elder Abuse have a petition running to make this a crime; Please sign here

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/132323

We are not affiliated in any way with AEA. Please visit their website to read more of what they do - http://elderabuse.org.uk/

Abuse and neglect of the elderly needs to be stamped out and TOGETHER we can stand as a voice to eradicate this abuse of power and trust.