North East people fear the worst on old age care

Apr 28 2008 by Sam Wood, The Journal

MORE than eight in 10 people in the North East are “very concerned” about the quality of care they will receive when they get old, a survey by Age Concern revealed last night.

The findings, from people aged 17-35, show that people in this region have the biggest fears in the country when it comes to being looked after when they get old.

The poll also showed that 36% of people worry they will not be treated with dignity or respect when they need assistance.

John Berry, North East Pensioners Association secretary, said yesterday he wasn’t surprised by the findings.

He said: “We have been complaining about things for years and have never got anywhere.

“Care is extremely important and the problems are becoming more pronounced every day. The health service needs to be looked at, people without relatives are in a bad way. The state pension is totally inadequate, and the heating allowance is still too low which makes things worse.

“The problem is that people in the region don’t earn enough money to save for their retirement. There has been a lack of investment generally in the region and that has an impact.”

Mr Berry called for more investment from the government for elderly care, but added: “That is not all. There needs to be more investment generally in young people as well, so that older people can be looked after properly.

“Dignity and respect for older people seems to be something which is diminishing. There is a lack of understanding from a lot of people.”

Marie McWilliams, Campaigns Manager, Age Concern Northumberland said care was a postcode lottery.

“How do we explain to someone in Northumberland why their care package has been reduced to ‘critical’ needs only when a family member a few miles down the road in Sunderland gets help with all of his needs? she said.

Elderly people in the care system have said that some carers offer very poor quality support.

Examples given by Age Concern yesterday included the wrong medicines being given and records of dosage not being kept. Some people have complained that carers were failing to turn up or falling asleep on the job.

One carer recorded that an elderly woman was asleep upstairs at home, when she was away in hospital.

Others have reported that carers were failing to meet basic hygiene rules and not wearing gloves when bathing clients.

One in five care homes and home care providers do not meet the minimum standards for residential care set by the Commission for Social Care Inspectorate, according to Age Concern.

Gordon Lishman, director general of the charity, said: “People are fed up with fighting to get the care they need in later life, either for themselves or for their loved ones.

“The care system clearly isn’t working, which is why radical reform is urgently needed. The Government urgently needs to set a timetable for change, so that people can be sure they are not being fobbed off.”

Age Concern is launching a new campaign – the Big Q – to challenge politicians to improve care for older people. The Government will begin a public consultation on the issue later this year.