Dignity For Older People Must Mean More Than Just Words Says Help The Aged, As Charity Reacts To Healthcare Report, UK

Main Category: Seniors / Aging
Article Date: 07 Dec 2007 - 4:00 PDT

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Reacting to the publication of the 'State of Healthcare' report by the Healthcare Commission, Charlotte Potter, senior policy officer at Help the Aged said:

'This report shows that standards in health care today are worryingly uneven. Older people bear the brunt of poor policy making in the health service and are often badly served by delays in treatment and age discrimination in clinical decision making, as well as being the main patient group who suffer from hospital acquired infections such as MRSA and c.difficile. Indeed, the Healthcare Commission's own earlier published reports have shown that the care of older people often falls short of the essential standards of dignity that should be compulsory.

'In the 21st century, it really is shocking that health services fail to consistently provide aspects of basic care when it comes to hygiene, privacy and nutirition. Help the Aged will continue to press Ministers to ensure that dignity and respect for older people is placed at the very centre of health policy. Dignity in care should never be compromised and should be far more than a mere concept to sign up to. Fine words do not deliver dignity for our older population.'

Notes :

The Healthcare Commission report - entitled 'State of Healthcare' - is available by visiting here.

Help the Aged is producing dignity guides on a series of issues connected to care for older people. More information can be obtained by contacting the Press Office on 020 7239 1941.

Help the Aged is the charity fighting to free disadvantaged older people in the UK and overseas from poverty, isolation, neglect and ageism. It campaigns to raise public awareness of the issues affecting older people and to bring about policy change. The Charity delivers a range of services: information and advice, home support and community living, including international development work. These are supported by its paid-for services and fundraising activities - which aim to increase funding in the future to respond to the growing unmet needs of disadvantaged older people. Help the Aged also funds vital research into the health issues and experiences of older people to improve the quality of later life.

Help the Aged urgently needs donations and support to help it in the increasingly challenging fight to free disadvantaged older people from poverty, isolation and neglect.

http://www.helptheaged.org.uk