Exposed: Abuse of elderly in care

ABUSE of vulnerable pensioners in care homes is widespread, according to England’s largest survey of care staff.

Old people suffered a lack of attention, abusive behaviour or rough treatment in 91 of the 92 homes surveyed.

Half of care home workers have witnessed, or have been guilty of, neglect of elderly residents, researchers from University College London found.

Making residents wait for care such as help to visit the lavatory was the most common type of neglect, followed by the shunning of particularly difficult residents and hurrying people through meals.

One in three residents is treated like inmates, never leaving the home except for hospital visits, the report said.

Inadequate

Andrea Sutcliffe, chief inspector of adult social care at the Care Quality Commission, said: “This study demonstrates yet again how important it is that people who run and manage care homes ensure they have enough staff who are properly trained and supported to deliver the good care people have every right to expect.

“Examples of poor practice highlighted by the researchers reflect our own findings in services rated as ‘inadequate’ or ‘requires improvement’.

“We can see too few staff who do not have enough time and do not have the right training to provide the personcentred care that is so vital for people’s health and wellbeing.”

The results of the study have been published in the journal PLOS One.