Study into abuse of elderly hailed

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The £2 million project is the first to examine the full extent of abuse in state-run facilities for older people. The three-year government survey, jointly funded with Comic Relief, is one of three government measures aimed at giving more support to older people.

Health minister Ivan Lewis also pledged to ensure the provisions of the Human Rights Act (HRA) would cover residents of private care homes.

The House of Lords last year ruled the Act only covered people in state-run institutions. But ministers will seek to amend the Health and Social Care Bill currently going through parliament to reverse the ruling.

Mr Lewis also launched proposals for an independent adjudicator to rule on complaints against private homes by people who fund their own care.

Currently elderly people who do not quality for state support and pay for their own care can only complain to the companies running their home.

Kate Jopling, Help the Aged's head of public affairs, said the failure to protect older people was a "blight" on society.

"The Government's amendment to the Health and Social Care Bill will help to close the protection gap, and ensure these most vulnerable people have proper protection. It's vital that the Government's investigation into the extent of elder abuse leads to concrete action.

"Ignorance prevents us from recognising the true extent and nature of elder abuse. We have ignored it for too long.

"All older people have a right to live their lives free from fear of abuse and neglect, whoever is responsible for their care - the state, a private provider or the voluntary sector."