Elder Abuse -Time for Action, UK

Main Category: Seniors / Aging
Article Date: 08 Feb 2005 - 16:00 PDT

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1 in 4 district nurses and healthcare assistants participating in a recent survey have observed elder abuse during the course of their work in the last year.

This is one of the survey findings that will be highlighted at a conference organised by the Community and District Nurses Association to be held on Friday 11th February in London. The conference continues the ongoing CDNA campaign to highlight the scandal of elder abuse.

Anne Duffy, Director of the CDNA, said "the results of this survey make shocking reading for us all. It proves that the CDNA is right to keep raising the issue of elder abuse and we will carry on doing so until the best possible protection is afforded to all vulnerable people."

The report suggests that the majority (77%) of cases reported are carried out by a family member of the victim. In 82% of cases the abuse occurred in the victim's own home. This confirms the results of a previous survey carried out by the CDNA last year

The CDNA is urging the Government to make resources available for:

-- Mandatory abuse awareness training for all primary healthcare practitioners
-- Better integration of services and a multi-agency approach to elder abuse.
-- A public awareness campaign to highlight the issue of elder abuse

The CDNA has been highlighting the issue of elder abuse since 2000. Friday's conference focuses on elder abuse and prevention strategies. The perspectives include those of nursing home residents, the special needs of those with incapacity, working with the law and elder abuse and medication.

The survey results can be accessed on line at http://www.thecampaigncompany.co.uk/cdna from 10.00am Friday 11 February

Ends:

For more information and to arrange interviews with speakers please contact Nik Clifton on 0208 688 0650 or email nik@thecampaigncompany.co.uk

Notes to Editors:

-- Behind Closed Doors, Elder Abuse Conference is taking place at Portcullis House, Westminster, London on Friday 11th February from 9:30am until 4pm

-- The CDNA are a specialist trade union affiliated to both the TUC and STUC and represent nurses and healthcare assistants who work in the community, making highly skilled decisions on a daily basis in primary care.

Community & District Nursing Association
http://www.cdna.tvu.ac.uk
Walpole House
18 - 22 Bond Street
Ealing, London
W5 5AA
Tel: 020 8231 0180
Fax: 020 8231 0187

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