Our proud campaign for elderly
I SET up Care Campaign for the Vulnerable more than five years ago after my own mother, who lives with vascular dementia, suffered serious failings while in care.
Apart from one serious assault against her, failings that happened had very little to do with the dedication and commitment of most carers, many understaffed and overworked.
It would, however, be very naive to suggest the care sector is free from inadequate, abusive and non-committed care staff. It isn’t, and this is proven when we are contacted daily by distressed families and concerned carers describing shocking incidents of cruelty and neglect in some care homes and, not forgetting, in a person’s own home.
As the founder of Care Campaign for the Vulnerable it is equally important to champion what I see every day on my travels YOUR crusading Daily Express continues to fight the corner of Britain’s pensioners through our Respect For The Elderly crusade.
We are proud to champion the forgotten generation who helped shape this country’s future but who have been marginalised by successive governments.
Our calls for a dedicated minister for older people to put their interests at the heart of decision making in Whitehall has received widespread backing.
More than £70,000 has been pledged to the Silver Line appeal by our loyal readers following a front page appeal.
We continue to fight for a change in the law to make the targeting of the aged a hate crime.
Like charity Action on Elder Abuse, we want justice ministers to intervene and make abuse of the elderly an aggravated offence so courts can impose tough sentences on those who exploit the helpless.
Around a million older people are victims of physical, financial and sexual abuse each year but convictions are rare and sentences far too lenient.