Parliament

Stop Elder Abuse

I recently took part in the first ever World Elder Abuse Awareness Day organised by Help the Aged.                           

As part of the campaign, I am calling on the Government to close the loophole in the Human Rights Act which currently fails to protect 650,000 older people in this country who receive care from private care providers.  Only those cared for by public authorities are able to seek redress for mistreatment through the Act, leaving the majority who receive private care without protection of their basic human rights.

The abuse can be financial, physical, emotional, sexual or sheer neglect.  I believe it is a national travesty that the vast majority of older people, who are cared for by the private or voluntary sector, have no way of enforcing their rights as human beings if they are mistreated.  The Human Rights Act is of fundamental importance for older people but it is not working effectively to protect them.  Unless strong new laws are introduced, abuse of this kind will continue.

My Private Member's Bill, the Registered Care Homes (Amendment) Act 1991 tightened up the regulation of care homes and protects elderly people.

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