Concern surrounding home care for the elderly

Posted 19/03/2012

A consumer group has carried out a survey of the standard of care provided to the elderly in their own homes, the outcome of which has been labelled “shocking and disgraceful”. The survey carried out by “Which” found disturbing evidence of cases where there were missed visits, food left out of reach, medication not given and people being left in soiled beds. The findings were based on a survey and the diaries kept by the elderly.More than 500,000 elderly people rely on help at home. Funding is an issue as more Government cuts and benefit reductions affect Councils who in the past would have funded such care.The main complaints are of rushed visits and care plans not being followed, leaving already vulnerable elderly people in discomfort, hungry or without their medication.Julie Crossley, a Clinical Negligence Lawyer at Ashtons Legal comments: “This is a real concern as elderly people are already vulnerable and Care Agencies, Social Services and Local Authority carers are paid to provide a service which in some instances is not being carried out to a satisfactory standard. They are in themselves vulnerable to litigation, if those for whom they are supposed to be caring suffer an injury as a result of their failure to provide the care to a reasonable standard.”