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Number of elderly who are abused soars 28% but a third of culprits never face justice
Almost 300 suspected cases reported every day last year Includes neglect, physical attacks and mental cruelty More than a third of abusers are care workers Changes to Care Bill demanded to bring perpetrators to justice
By Daniel Martin PUBLISHED: 00:36 GMT, 5 October 2013 | UPDATED: 00:36 GMT, 5 October 2013

19 shares 43 View comments

The number of elderly people being abused has soared by more than a quarter in a year and a third of the perpetrators never face justice. Almost 300 suspected cases were reported to local authorities every day last year, making a total of 105,000 a huge 28 per cent increase on the 82,000 from 2011. More than a quarter of the cases involved someone aged at least 85.

A total of 105,000 cases were reported last year and a quarter of them involved a victim aged 85 or over

Much of the abuse is carried out by home helps and staff in care homes the very people entrusted to look after the elderly. It includes neglect, physical attacks, mental cruelty and financial manipulation. But the reported cases are believed to represent just the tip of the iceberg because experts say far more take place but are never discovered. More than a third of suspected abusers are care workers, and almost a half of the cases took place in residential care homes. Last night a charity demanded a change to the Care Bill, which is going through Parliament, to ensure that those guilty of abuse are brought to justice. Age UK, who collated the figures, said it wants to see a new crime of corporate neglect to punish care home or care agency managers who allow a culture of abuse and neglect. The latest figures show more than a quarter of cases reported to local authorities related to suspicions of physical abuse, and more than a third to neglect. In addition, just over 18 per cent were concerned with financial abuse, such as people taking advantage of the elderly to get access to bank accounts, 13 per cent were to do with emotional or physical abuse, and 2.4 per cent highlighted sexual abuse.

Around half of all abuse was believed to have happened in residential care homes and a third was carried out by staff (file pic)

Caroline Abrahams, of Age UK, said: These numbers are disturbing. Even though growing awareness of the abuse of older people is likely to have contributed to the increase in the number of safeguarding concerns reported, they concern some of the most vulnerable people in our society, many of whom feel that they have no one to turn to for help. Any abuse of older people is unacceptable and we need a zero-tolerance approach to any abuse whether through neglect, financial manipulation or physical or mental cruelty. Our biggest fear is that there are still many cases that are not reported and we would encourage anyone who suspects an older person is being abused to contact their social services or the police straight away. The increase in reported abuse cases comes amid concerns that standards in care homes are deteriorating and that the elderly are being put at risk of neglect because home helps often only visit for 15 minutes, giving them insufficient time to assist with washing, dressing, heating up meals and going to the toilet that an older person may need. The Mails long-running Dignity For The Elderly campaign has highlighted poor services and care for older people. This summer, we revealed that a record 910 care homes were issued with official warnings after the health watchdog uncovered unacceptable standards of care for the most vulnerable. Warning notices from the Care Quality Commission are issued when the standard of care breaks the law. Unless they make improvements, they face closure and prosecution.

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Comments (43)
Share what you think Newest Oldest Best rated Worst rated View all Report comment dog soldier, Durham, moments ago If we, as a country, can have thousands of CCTV cameras plastered over every square inch of land why not make them compulsory in all care homes?

0 0 Click to rate Report comment molly, under hadrians wall, United Kingdom, 21 minutes ago As a country we have a disgusting record of cruelty toward children, elderly and animals. It seems to me, if and when the people who carry out this treatment are caught, it is the ones who abuse animals that have the longer sentences than those abusing the other two. We need to review how severe they should be dealt with, in most cases I think 'throwing the key away' in all three should be handed out.

0 2 Click to rate Report comment June, Canvey Essex, 30 minutes ago @Alice, oxfordshire hotels are a good compromise as long as the person is active and capable of washing and dressing themselves and continent too, they would be fed and have room service etc - the problems start when they become ill and in need of outside help

0 3 Click to rate Report comment grumpy old woman, Planet Zorg, 33 minutes ago Sadly, a lot of the victims in care homes will have the likes of dementia, altzeimers and the culprits know this and know they don't make credible witnesses. I went to an elderly lady who had complained that her carer kept hurting her when she was there. I got to her and noticed a woman lurking around the door whilst I was talking to the complainant and she kept glancing up at the door. All it took was for me to slam the door in her carer's face and the elderly lady spoke freely. Before I left the Manager of the Unit was informed and a new carer given to her and her first carer fired. It's hard to get these cases to court, and it was obvious my complainant wouldn't have fared well but that didn't stop me scaring the bejesus out of the Manager. I told her I would be calling in often and without notice.

1 5 Click to rate Report comment oldgeyser, limassol, Cyprus, 37 minutes ago EATEN BREAD IS SOON FORGOTTEN.

1 0 Click to rate Report comment seanbeanisfitt, us citizen living in uk, 49 minutes ago I volunteer all the time for people with neurological problems and this is before I go to work in the afternoon. To think of what people are capable of sickens me. I have respect for everyone except for sad excuses like this. If this is the attitude you have towards caring for people then you really need to rethink your position. I am 27 and would love a job like this helping out.

0 5 Click to rate Report comment seanbeanisfitt, us citizen living in uk, 54 minutes ago Oh I would love to get my hands on one of these so called care workers. What big people. NOT. Sometimes humans sicken me, then again these people must not be human to do this to defenceless and vulnerable people.

0 6 Click to rate Report comment seanbeanisfitt, us citizen living in uk, 56 minutes ago you pay in the system all your life for this? I would much rather keep my money away from the greedy government and give it to my children along with my house.

0 5 Click to rate Report comment Mike, Dorchester, 56 minutes ago Old people are only worth the profit that can be made out of them them? Face it - that is the prevailing culture of this nation. Can't allow euthanasia though? Though I guess it is not impossible that this will be allowed when the individual no longer has any money and the state can not 'afford' keeping them alive? It will not be permitted for those with more cash to be removed from them before they die? A mad cruel vision? Perhaps, and yet perhaps not?

0 3 Click to rate Report comment Old Bill, Hampton, 1 hour ago Many elderly people have worked hard all their lives, brought up a family , scrimped and saved and managed to buy a house. Unless they have children who live close by and can look after them the alternative is to go into a home and be obliged to sell their only asset, the house, in order to pay extortionate care home fees. It is a national disgrace that having paid tax all their lives they are not able to pass on their assets to their children . Government since 1997 have had no interest in the elderly and this will be remembered at the next general election.

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