DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
News Release (2007/0157) issued by The Government News Network on 14
June 2007
New research,
revealing the true extent of abuse suffered by older people in the
UK, was released today by Comic Relief, Chief Executive, Kevin
Cahill and Health Minster, Ivan Lewis.
The UK Study of Abuse and Neglect, carried out over two years by
independent researchers at National Centre for Social Research and
Kings College, London, was based on a survey of around 2000 people
aged 66 and over who live in their own homes (including sheltered housing).
The findings of the study show that:
- 2.6% or 227,000 people were neglected or abused by family,
close
friends and care workers in the last year; and
- 4% or 342,400 people were neglected or abused in the last year
by
family, close friends and care workers, neighbors and
acquaintances
(i.e. a broader definition of those who might abuse).
- Mistreatment is broken down into neglect (1.1%), financial
abuse
(0.7%), psychological and physical abuse (both 0.4%) and
sexual
abuse (0.2%).
- The majority of the incidents involved a partner (51%) or
another family member (49%) followed by a voluntary or paid care
worker (13%) and close friend (5%).
Kevin Cahill, CEO, Comic Relief said:
"Comic Relief feels passionately that growing older with
dignity, free from abuse is something we should all expect rather
than aspire to. Using some of the money raised through Red Nose
Day we have taken the lead in funding this research and over the
years, through appeal films and the BBC ONE drama 'Dad'
we have helped raise awareness of this enormous social issue.
Thousands of older people are suffering abuse and this robust
research means we can no longer deny that society's attitude
towards older people is a problem.
Now that we have achieved this first step these figures need to
be used positively so decision makers and care givers can ensure
that if anyone faces abuse they can get access to services and
receive the help they need.
People are living longer and the numbers of older people are set
to rise in the following decades.
This is the first time Comic Relief has funded research, and from
the findings we hope we have provided the evidence to effect change."
Care Services Minister, Ivan Lewis said:
"This research gives us the first objective and scientific
assessment of the prevalence of elder abuse. We now have with
some precision an up-to-date estimate of the size of the challenge
that we face. Older people deserve to be treated with dignity and
respect - abuse in any setting is just unacceptable.
"I want people to be as outraged by the abuse of an older
person as they are by the abuse of a child. Sadly, we are nowhere
near that yet as a society but that culture has to change.
"This research shows us the nature of the problems that we
will all face in the future.
"That's why today I'm announcing two measures for
the first time, national and local records on the abuse of older
people will be systematically collected so that each individual
council can monitor abuse locally and act on it.
"It is essential to put in place the mechanisms for
collecting accurate and impartial data that will allow help to be
targeted where it is most needed. Knowing the size of the
challenge nationally is one thing but each individual council
ought equally to know what's going on locally. A systematic
data collection will identify this and allow comparisons between councils.
No Secrets is the existing guidance on safeguarding vulnerable
adults, launched in 2000. The aim of 'No Secrets' is to
ensure that health, social services and the police, are able to
work together to protect vulnerable adults from abuse.
"Seven years on, and in the light of several serious
incidences of adult abuse, it is timely to review this guidance
and to consult with other government departments that have an
interest in this field. New guidance is necessary to reflect the
evidence in today's report and respond to the new demographic
realities which are affecting our society. We will also consider
the case for legislation as part of the review process."
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. The full report can be found at http://www.comicrelief.com/elderabuse.
2. Definitions
The definition of elder abuse is widely recognised as complex..
This study started from the definition developed by Action on
Elder Abuse and adopted by the World Health Organisation: A
single or repeated act or lack of appropriate action occurring
within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust,
which causes harm or distress to an older person.
Then, importantly, the study goes on to define different types of
abuse or neglect so that researchers and interviewers were clear
about the behaviours, the relationship between perpetrator and the
older person and the impact of the abuse. It looked at abuse that
is financial, psychological, physical, sexual, and neglect.
'Mistreatment' is used in the report to refer to all
forms of abuse (psychological, physical, sexual, and financial)
and neglect
'Interpersonal abuse' is used to describe physical,
psychological and sexual abuse.
'Neglect' is defined as "the repeated deprivation
of assistance needed by the older person for important activities
of daily living". The activities of daily living involved
were: shopping, housework, preparing meals; not getting help with
personal care (such as getting in and out of bed, washing, using a
toilet) and not getting help to take medication at the right time
and the right dose.
2. The research considered abuse by close relationships, family,
friends and carers, and in addition to this, wider relationships
with neighbors and acquaintances. The research did not look into
abuse in care homes although the study did pilot methodology which
has shown it could be used effectively for future research into
the more challenging issue of care homes.
[ENDS]