Lack in dignity when caring for older people in hospital
- 15 Jul
A wide range survey of NHS patients has found that a fifth of people in hospital in England are not being treated with respect and dignity.
In a poll from 2012 it has been found that poor care is most likely to be experienced by people over the age of 80, reports the BBC.
Over a third of patients who need help at mealtimes did not receive enough assistance.
NHS England said looking after older patients well was a critical test of a modern health service.
Age UK, which helped to advise the researchers, said there had been "remarkably little change" over time in the care experienced by older patients.
The report was carried out by the Centre for Analysis in Social Exclusion at the LSE, and found that poor or inconsistent care was most likely to be experienced by women and the over-80s.
According to the report: "There was a widespread and systematic pattern of inconsistent or poor standards of care during hospital stays in England in 2012. Patient experiences of inconsistent or poor standards of dignity and help with eating do not appear to be limited to isolated 'outlier' providers. Rather, this appears to be a significant general problem affecting the vast majority of NHS acute hospital trusts."
23% of patients reported experiencing poor or inconsistent standards of dignity and respect which is the equivalent to 2.8 million a year, of which a million would be over the age of 65.
Age UK charity director Caroline Abrahams said: "It must be recognised that the data this research is based on is two years old now and that the newest figures suggest some welcome improvement, especially as regards older people's experiences of dignity, but this sobering report certainly shows that hospitals need to redouble their efforts. Above all it is really worrying, if perhaps not altogether surprising, that the more vulnerable an older person is, the greater their risk of not being treated as we would all wish for ourselves or our loved ones. Turning this situation around ought to be a top priority and no hospital can afford to be complacent."
What do you think of this? Tweet us your comments @suppsolutions
Related articles
- 01 Sep
Older people need more male carers
Professor Martin Green has said that the government needs to do more to recruit males into front-line adult social care roles, reports the BBC.Prof Green has said that with the increasing number of...
- 25 Aug
Survey finds older people have better quality of life in retirement villages than care homes
Chief executive of Audley Retirement, Nick Sanderson, has said that demand for his form of extra-care housing was so strong he could not build homes fast enough, reports the Guardian.He said: “I...
- 12 Aug
Older people’s Commissioner disappointed by Welsh Government
Sarah Rochira, Wale’s Commissioner for older people has said she is “extremely disappointed” at the response from the Welsh Government to its call for action to protect residents in care homes,...
- 31 Jul
Charity warns of loneliness in older people
The Campaign to End Loneliness charity want a “range of support” for older people to help them fight loneliness, reports the BBC. The charity says that transport and technology are essential to...
- 27 Jul
New housing for older people promised
Members of Kensington and Chelsea’s cabinet have decided to create 150 new homes for older people on the site of a care home that closed down in 2014 due to Legionella, reports Get West...
- 22 Jul
New drug provides hope for older people with Parkinsons
Scientists have found that people taking glitazone pills were less likely to develop Parkinson’s than people taking other diabetes drugs. However, they have cautioned that the drugs could have...
- 09 Jul
New housing development for older people in Sunderland
A 16.3m housing and care scheme has been opened by the Leader of Sunderland Council, reports Sunderland Echo.The accommodation provides 158 two-bedroom apartments for older people and 17 one bed...
- 07 Jul
Social care cuts leaving older people stranded
Age UK is calling on Chancellor George Osborne to put an end to cuts to social care funding due to the increasing rate the older population is growing, reports the Yorkshire Post. Age UK has...
- 01 Jul
Charity wants priority for older people in housing
Erosh represents organisation providing housing and support to 120,000 older people and has written to new government ministers in opposition, reports Inside Housing.The letter calls on ministers to...
- 22 Jun
Older people failed by public transport
A report by the International Longevity Centre thinktank and charity Age UK has found that many people aged over 65 felt that public transport “not convenient and does not go where you want”,...
How to fund Housing Support and Social Care Services "Alot of information in a short time, good for me because I travelled a long way. So I feel the journey was worthwhile." C.T - People First Dorset
