To protect elderly
respect, and for their human rights to be protected”. But relatives say they have been let down, their final days with loved ones overshadowed by their anguish.
They include the family of Alzheimer’s sufferer Patricia Heslop, 75, who fractured her hip in a fall in 2016 that was never reported at Hebburn Court Care Home, South Tyneside.
Unable to communicate due to her condition, she suffered in silence for five days until daughters Ashleigh Joachim, 47, and Lesley Haswell, 50, pleaded for an ambulance after noticing she was unwell.
Frail Patricia died five months later. A coroner ruled the fracture contributed to her death, and backed the “reprehensible likelihood... a member of staff has found Patricia in a fallen position or witnessed more than 100,000 calls and it provides support for victims and their families.
The charity works closely with central and local government as well as care watchdogs.
It has been campaigning to make elder abuse a recognised hate crime and official consultations on this will begin in January. the fall and has not said anything”. Ashleigh, from Sunderland, said: “Our mother paid into the system to be nursed and cared for. She should have reached the end of her life in dignity, without the horrific suffering she had to endure.
“Dementia patients are suffering beyond our comprehension, enduring neglectful care, abuse and even death – yet the state is averting its eyes.”
Hebburn Court apologised and said it worked closely with the family on a “full investigation” and had put in place an “extensive programme of retraining and clinical supervision”.
It added that the “isolated occurrence does not reflect the experience of most residents and relatives”. Last year it was calculated there were 11,300 care homes for the elderly in the UK, 95% run by the independent sector, housing 410,000 residents – a figure set to increase as the population ages.
But there could be a shortage of 400,000 care workers by 2028 unless pay and conditions in the sector improve, the Institute for Public Policy Research think-tank says in a new paper. The care home industry is worth £16billion, with 41% of residents fully funding themselves. Those self-funding paid an average £44,000 a year, or £846 per week, in 2016, while local authorities supporting residents spent £621 a week. Annual Mr FitzGerald The Mirror’s Fair Care for All campaign is calling for: ■ The creation of a National Care System to run alongside the NHS
■ Carers to be paid the real living wage
■ An end to home visits of 15 minutes or less
■ An increase in the allowance for unpaid carers
■ Creation of a national system of volunteering to spend time with the elderly
■ Appointment of a minister for the elderly
■ A national commission on how to fund the care revolution spending by local authorities on social care rose to £17.5billion last year, up £556million on the previous year, according to NHS Digital.
Andrea Sutcliffe, chief inspector of adult social care at the CQC, said: “We take it extremely seriously when families share their concerns with us and their information helps us to decide when to inspect a service and what to focus on.”
In such highlighted cases, the concerns shared with the CQC were “taken into consideration by the inspection teams”, she said, adding: “We were clear and direct with the providers concerned about our expectations of the care they should be providing.”
The CPS said: “We know being a victim of crime can be extremely distressing and, for older people, the impact can be even greater.
“The CPS can only prosecute cases after an investigation by the police but wherever there is sufficient evidence and it is in the public interest, we will always bring charges.” Tell us what you think: yourvoice@mirror.co.uk