MPs slam 'shameful' care of elderly

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The Joint Committee on Human Rights called for a "complete change of culture" in health and care services and said new legal obligations should be placed on old peoples' homes.

The report was welcomed by Help The Aged, who said the Government must act now to stop age discrimination.

The committee heard evidence about care home residents being left lying in their own urine or excrement, suffering malnutrition and being abused by staff.

The report said: "In our view, elder abuse is a serious and severe human rights abuse which is perpetrated on vulnerable older people who often depend on their abusers to provide them with care. Not only is it a betrayal of trust, it would also, in certain circumstances, amount to a criminal offence."

The committee criticised the Department of Health and Ministry of justice for failing to "provide proper leadership" and guidance about the Human Rights Act to providers of health and residential care.

Some 21% of care homes failed to reach minimum standards for privacy and dignity and the committee said existing legislation does not go far enough to protect and promote the rights of older people.

The committee called on the Government to place a positive duty on health and residential care providers to promote equality for older people.

Kate Jopling, head of public affairs at Help the Aged, said: "This influential group of Parliamentarians have lifted the lid on the shameful treatment of our older citizens by health and care services. Far from tending to the needs of the most vulnerable, too often these services fail to even respect older people's most basic human rights."

Health minister Ivan Lewis said: "The Government regards abuse of vulnerable and older people as unacceptable in all its forms and is determined to root it out. We have already taken positive action to ensure that dignity is at the heart of the NHS and social care system."