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Press Release

Age UK statement on the EHRC home care enquiry

23 November 2011

Michelle Mitchell, Charity Director at Age UK says:

"The evidence of physical and financial abuse uncovered by the EHRC home care inquiry is shameful. It is simply unacceptable that care in people's own homes, where they can be at their most vulnerable, is often inadequate, disrespectful and lacking in dignity. By definition people who receive care in their own homes could find it hard to speak up about abuse or the way they are treated.

"Home care has to be focused on caring for, and listening to individuals rather than focusing on a tick box of tasks to be completed within a 15 minute time frame. This report shows that lack of training, skills and knowledge in a low status work force –are contributing to abuse and neglect. Many of the examples that the Commission has found are not merely poor practice, they are fundamental breaches of basic human rights that undermine people's humanity and self respect and in some cases, particularly where people are not helped with eating and drinking, putting their health at risk.

"Older people's needs should be at the heart of care provision not the needs of the service provider. Guaranteeing human rights should not be an optional extra built onto care services but should be at the core of provision. Care providers, inspectors, and local authorities who arrange services should be responsible for ensuring that people's human rights are respected. It is unacceptable that people who receive care from local authorities are protected by the human rights act, but lose this protection if the care is contracted out to an agency. The law must be changed to close this loophole.

"By exposing the examples of poor care the EHRC has shown once again the urgent need for a care reform package which creates a well-funded and high quality social care system.



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