UK Edition
The number of elderly abused by relatives or carers has risen by as much as 37 per cent during lockdown, official figures show, as campaigners demanded “powers of entry” to protect victims in their homes.
Victim Support said it had seen a 17 per cent increase in reports of domestic violence against people aged 65 or over, while Hourglass, the only national charity dedicated to elder abuse, said calls from elderly victims had risen by at least 30 per cent during lockdown.
Hourglass, which runs the national helpline for elderly abuse, said there had been a sharp rise in reports of neglect which were up by 37 per cent - and particularly in care homes which have suffered the biggest increase in deaths during the pandemic.
The charity said it had cases of elderly people being negligently exposed to the virus, left unfed, moved from one home to another without consultation and cut off from phone contact with relatives. Cases in personal homes have included a serious assault by a daughter on a parent.
It says elderly abuse is a “hidden” scandal as older people are often reluctant to report “loved ones” or carers, fear they could be forced out of their house or home and are from a generation that “don’t want to cause trouble”. Age Concern estimates just one in 24 elderly victims report their abuse.
The charity is calling for social services and similar agencies to be given “powers of entry” to allow them to go into homes to investigate abuse allegations against the elderly as they can with child abuse and the RSPCA can with pets and animals.
Richard Robinson, Hourglass’s chief executive, said: “If you saw a dog being abused in a back garden and reported it to the RSPCA, they would have powers of entry to investigate. We are talking here about mothers, fathers and grandparents but there’s no power of entry for elderly abuse.”
The Scottish Government introduced such a power in its domestic abuse legislation and the charity is urging MPs to consider extending it south of the border by amending the domestic abuse Bill currently before Parliament.
Mr Robinson said elderly abuse had barely earned a mention during the Bill’s second reading yet “for elderly people the scar left by abuse can lead to their deaths. Elderly people don’t get over the abuse and shock that comes with it.”
Among those who have contacted Hourglass during lockdown was Katherine, who was concerned about her aunt Susan’s welfare in a care home in Berkshire.
The home manager had failed to follow guidance, including allowing new residents to move into the home without testing or a quarantine period, while staff were not permitted to self-isolate despite showing symptoms of coronavirus.
“Katherine told us that some of the staff had even confessed to her that they felt helpless but did not want to go against the manager’s orders as they were scared of losing their jobs,” said Mr Robinson.
The charity has received an emergency £60,000 from Government to help maintain the helpline but he warned that they only had enough money to keep going for another three months before they would have to raid its slender contingency fund and then start reducing services.
Dame Vera Baird, the Victims’ Commissioner, said: “Older people have already been let down by what has happened in care homes during the coronavirus pandemic. We must not let them down again by failing to help those suffering abuse in the very places they should be safe.
“It is crucial that elder abuse is incorporated into the Government’s domestic abuse awareness campaign, so people become aware of the issue, are able to recognise the signs, and are encouraged to report any concerns they may have.
“And that charities working in this area are allocated some of the money the Government has ring-fenced for domestic abuse support services.”