Elderly abuse warning: Families urged to do more to reduce risk of neglect
GETTY Families and friends have been urged to do more to reduce the risk of elderly people being neglected
Around 500,000 UK pensioners are faced with violence or coercion each year, but cases can be hard to spot. As well as physical, sexual and emotional abuse and neglect, financial abuse can also have a significant adverse impact on victims’ health and wellbeing. And greater awareness of the problem - including scam mail targeting and doorstep conmen – is needed to reduce the risk of older and disabled people being mistreated.
Research also shows that 53 per cent of older people believe they have been targeted by fraudsters and that a third of older people who responded to a scam may have lost £1,000 or more. Older people defrauded in their homes are two-and-a-half times more likely to enter residential care within two years, compared to older people who are not victims of fraud. Fraudsters, including bogus doorstep callers and scam mail firms, often target older people whose health can suffer after falling victim to a scam, leading to extra costs on the health and social care sector, which could be prevented through earlier prevention and protection.
The rights of older and disabled people need to be protected Glen Garrod, Vice President of ADASS
The Association of Directors of Adult Social Services is calling for people to do more to look out for signs of abuse and to listen properly and act on any concerns. ADASS is also calling for a Government-funded recruitment campaign to help address high staff turnover and a reliance on agency staff, which leads to lack of continuity and to carers not knowing the person they are looking after. Training of carers and healthcare professional dealing with pensioners so they recognise signs of elder abuse should also be compulsory.
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Glen Garrod, Vice President of ADASS, said: “Safeguarding adults at risk of abuse or neglect is one of the most important things that Social Services and their partners do and is a top priority at ADASS. “The rights of older and disabled people need to be protected just as much as those of children, particularly when they are less physically and emotionally strong and able to free themselves of abuse.
GETTY Social care experts have called for more to be done to protect vulnerable elderly people
“Carers, families and neighbours need to be more aware of abuse, which can see older and disabled people lose their life savings and suffer deteriorating health after falling victim to scam letters and phone calls and doorstep fraudsters. “We all need to listen to and understand the concerns of people receiving care, and not be afraid to act on them or merely dismiss them based on stereotypical assumptions of old age or dementia.” One case featured in the report was of a 92-year-old woman living alone who was duped into paying around £60,000 over 10 years - £500 a month - on bogus prize draws, with the equivalent of 34 bags of scam mail found at her home.
GETTY Around 500,000 UK pensioners are faced with violence or coercion each year