Lives of older people put at risk

The lives of older people are being put at risk by systemic
breaches of human rights in the social care system, according to a
report this week, writes Helen
McCormack.

The outsourcing of social care services to private care
providers who are not covered by the existing human rights
legislation has left older people unprotected by law, charity Help
the Aged warns.

The rationing of social care services for the elderly means they
are denied care even when they are assessed as being in need, the
report, Rights at Risk – Older People and Human Rights,
argues.

But with no apparent monitoring system in place, it is
impossible to know how many people die because of a lack of early
intervention, it adds.

The charity said the Commission for Equality and Human Rights,
due to be established in 2007, would be vitally important in
investigating abuses of the rights of older people.

More information from www.helptheaged.org.uk