What MPs found, and what they want

Last updated at 10:25 20 April 2004


The MPs listed six forms of "elder abuse".

These were headed by physical abuse, such as hitting, misuse of medication, restraint or "inappropriate sanctions".

They also identified sexual abuse; psychological abuse, including threats of harm, humiliation, blaming and verbal abuse; and financial abuse, including theft, fraud and pressure to alter wills.

A fifth form of abuse, MPs say, is neglect, such as ignoring health needs or withholding medicine, food or heat.

Lastly they listed discriminatory abuse, including "racist, sexist, that based on a person's disability, and other forms of harassment, slurs or similar treatment".

Though MPs said the 500,000 figure for the number in England suffering from such abuse is "widely quoted" they called for Goverment funding for more research on the subject.

These were the key recommendations - among their 40 proposals:

  • Stricter controls of the issue of death certificates, including rules that a GP should not be able to sign one for a care home resident if he or she is the owner or manager.

The Government has already proposed a shake-up of death certificate law following the conviction of mass murderer Dr Harold Shipman.

  • Care homes should no longer pay "retainers" to secure the services of doctors for homes.

    Each patient should have the right to treatment from their own GP.

  • Inspections of care homes should concentrate on the views of residents rather than form-filling by inspectors.

  • The Government's new Commission on Equality and Human Rights should have powers to enforce its rules rather than just promote and advertise them.

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