If we forget the recession a minute, there still is that awkward problem about global warming and this is where green driving comes in.

In fact, the greener driver you are, will most probably also mean you will see less of your car breakdown service.

The idea is to drive non-aggressively and therefore increase your cars’ miles per gallon, and its lifespan.

Hard driving has a negative effect upon your car’s performance in so many ways and could mean that when you compare car breakdown cover, you might not be able to get the best deal.

Nowadays drivers are encouraged to have a degree of empathy with their car. Jumping in, switching it on and immediately screaming off in a blaze of exhaust fumes, tyres squealing, burnt rubber and red-lining each gear change, is now no longer the accepted method of starting off from the kerb.

A car engine needs a few seconds of life before it is asked to reach maximum working load. It will do it of course, but think of all the pressure on the inner workings. Cam belts, water pumps, valves and all the rest of the thousands of components that make-up a modern engine, need carefully handling. Undue stress and they will fail on a more regular basis. And it means you will see the likes of the AA, RAC and Green Flag on a more regular basis.

And you don’t want to be paying over the odds when it comes to car insurance breakdown cover.

So, we now all have to remember to treat our cars kindly. When starting off, give it just a little chance to get warmed up; allow all that oil that has dropped to the sump during the night to get back into those nooks and crannies in the engine block. This doesn’t mean of course leaving it outside running for 15 minutes whilst you have that final cup of coffee. That does nothing for your fuel consumption, or the environment.

Once ready to go, use the throttle as though it has an egg underneath. Apply pressure gradually and thoughtfully. Do not have a ‘heavy’ right boot which means you kick at the pedal like Cristiano Ronaldo shooting from outside the box. And then make each successive gear change way before the red line on the rev counter. What’s a rev counter? For those that need to ask, it’s a dial, hopefully in the middle of your instrument panel, that helps you avoid blowing-up the engine with excessive revving (although your ears should also tell you that). But nowadays, it’s also a great way of keeping your fuel consumption down.

Use your rev counter to make sure you change gear at just the right time – so as not to let the engine struggle and stall, but also to avoid unnecessary revs and therefore wasted fuel.

Also, try not to ever go over 2,500/3,000 rpm (revolutions per minute), depending on your type of car of course. Most engines red-line (danger rev levels) at around 6,500/7,000 rpm, so keeping your car always at half that, will make a significant and beneficial difference to your fuel consumption and therefore your pocket.

It helps in this to also drive by anticipating what’s going to happen next. If you see for example stationery traffic ahead, slow down in plenty of time. Don’t leave it to the last minute, slap on the brakes, then accelerate hard again to pick-up speed.

Watch your revs and you could save yourself a packet. Green driving is not just for those who drive Volvos and live in Sweden.

Tags: Car Breakdowns, Car Insurance, Car Maintenance, Cars, Green Driving

Aea invited you to “Paintballing between June and September!” on Friday, June 12 at 9:00am.

Event: Paintballing between June and September!
“Just a £50 donation between 8 people!”
What: Daytrip
Host: Action on Elder Abuse
Start Time: Friday, June 12 at 9:00am
End Time: Monday, August 31 at 5:00pm
Where: Anywhere in the UK

To see more details and RSVP, follow the link below:

http://www.facebook.com/n/?event.php&eid=89829581838&mid=9e19feG22262e7fG1dbcb7bG7

Host: Action on Elder Abuse
Type: Trips – Day Trip
Network: Global
Start Time: 12 June 2009 at 09:00
End Time: 31 August 2009 at 17:00
Location: Anywhere in the UK
Street: Anywhere
Phone: 02087657000
Email: enquiries@elderabuse.org.uk

Tags: Charities, Charity Event, Elder Abuse, paint ball

Action on Elder Abuse has strongly condemned the decision of the Nursing and Midwifery Council to strike Margaret Haywood from the nursing register. The nurse had previously collaborated with Panorama in an undercover expose of conditions facing elderly patients at the Royal Sussex Hospital in Brighton, and was found guilty by a Professional Conduct Committee of ‘misconduct’.

Commenting upon the case, Gary FitzGerald Chief Executive of Action on Elder Abuse (AEA) said, “There was a clear and over-riding public interest in the actions taken by Panorama and Margaret Haywood, and equally importantly, a moral obligation to those older people who were experiencing poor care and neglect. It would appear that protecting the interests of the nursing profession has now taken precedence over uncovering and highlighting the dreadful conditions of older people on an NHS ward.”

Continued FitzGerald, “We have seen the pressures placed upon nurses in the Mid Staffordshire debacle, the deaths of Older People in Gosport War Memorial Hospital, the Nursing Times survey indicating that nurses are reluctant to report abuse, and the list is clearly going to continue. If, as the NMC would have us believe, it is possible for nurses to safely speak out about the abuse and neglect they witness taking place in elderly care wards I have to ask them why none of the other nurses in the Royal Sussex had successfully done so?”

Action on Elder Abuse has been in regular contact with Margaret Haywood during this period and will continue to do so. It is now calling for an independent inquiry into the quality of care being provided to older people by the NHS.

Concluded FitzGerald, “This situation has continued for too long. The NHS complaints systems regularly fails to provide satisfaction when matters of concern are raised, and nurses are too often frightened to whistleblow on practices that are blatantly abusive. And the only strategy in response appears to be a ‘Dignity in Care campaign’. It is time to have an open and transparent assessment of exactly what is happening to older people in the care of the NHS and that assessment needs to be independent of the system itself.”

ENDS.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

For further information on this news release please call 020 8765 7000 and speak to Daniel Blake.

1. Action on Elder Abuse is a national charity which aims to protect, and prevent the abuse of, vulnerable older people. It does this by raising awareness of the issues, encouraging education and by giving information and support to those in need. It has the only national freephone helpline dedicated to this cause and callers may ring from Monday to Friday between the hours of 9.00am and 5.00pm on 0808 808 8141 from the UK or 1800 940 010 from the Republic of Ireland for confidential support and information. For further information on Action on Elder Abuse go to website: www.elderabuse.org.uk

Tags: Elder Abuse, Gary FitzGerald, Margaret Haywood, NHS

Extract from Yahoo today.

 A care home manager has been charged with the murder of three of her elderly residents.

Rachel Baker, 44, operated Parkfields Residential Care Home in Butleigh, Somerset, along with her husband Leigh, 50, a chef.

Mrs Baker is charged with the murders of Marion Alder, 79, Lucy Cox, 97, and Francis Hay, also a pensioner, after their deaths at the home near Glastonbury between 2006 and 2007.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) announced that Avon and Somerset Police were charging her with the murders as well as 11 counts of possession of a controlled drug.

 She and her husband are also both charged with carrying out acts tending and intending to pervert the course of public justice.

 They are due to appear at South Somerset Magistrates’ Court, Yeovil, later.

 Reviewing lawyer Brian Pixton, from the CPS Complex Casework Unit, said: “We have been working closely with the police and medical experts over the past 18 months to investigate all aspects of the care of the individuals concerned before reaching a final decision on charging.

 The couple, who managed the home for nine years, live in Glastonbury with their five-year-old daughter.

 AEA’s response

Said chief executive of Action on Elder Abuse, Gary FitzGerald, “My heart goes out to the three families of the victims. This is a totally despicable case. Those entrusted to care for the victims have been charged with the murder of three pensioners. From their actions with little or no remorse. All too often vulnerable older people are placed in the care of individuals who don’t have the skills or intentions to do the job properly. Ultimately residents Marion Alder, 79, Lucy Cox, 97, and Francis Hay paid with their lives.

It took the horrendous case of Baby P to bring greater investment and revised laws to bridge the shortfalls in child protection and it is now time that Government and Society afford the same and equal response for these three victims and the many other Granny P’s faced with sub standard care, neglect, abuse and death by indifference.

AEA commends CSCI, Police and the CPS in their efforts to gain justice for the victims and their families but I should also highlight that unlike the situation in care homes where there are legal standards and inspectors, there is no similar legal system to provide you with protection if you organise your own care or if the abuse comes from a family friend. These protection systems are under-funded and lack the necessary powers to ensure adequate protection for many people – which is why we see so many horrendous cases constantly coming to light.

If you want to make a difference, and stop the suffering, apathy and deaths. Please support Action on Elder Abuse and sign our petition at www.elderabuse.org.uk which calls for laws to protect older people. There are too many people out there who fought a World War to give us the freedoms that we now enjoy. They deserve to enjoy their old age, be treated with upmost dignity and respect at all times. Most of us will be old someday so doing nothing is not acceptable!

Notes to Editors:

No Secrets Consultation document can be downloaded from the DH website on the day of the launch: http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/SocialCare/
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland there is no legislation to require protection when an older person (or other adult) is subjected to abuse. Statutory Agencies operate under guidance issued under the Local Authority Act 1970. It is called No Secrets, and as guidance they can choose to ignore it. As a consequence some atrocious abuse has occurred.
Most elder abuse happens in people’s own homes, perpetrated by family, friends and neighbours. According to the AEA helpline this accounts for 67% of elder abuse;
The Government has been repeatedly advised by AEA, by Adult Protection staff, and by the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services that the situation warrants primary legislation. The current systems vary by local authority area, vary in definitions of who can be supported, and how much funding is available etc. It is failing to protect our most vulnerable elderly people;
In Scotland the Parliament has enacted legislation called the Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007, which introduced a statutory framework for adult protection work.
Action on Elder Abuse depends on charitable donations to work towards its objectives of protecting older people and putting a stop to all kinds of abuse e.g. physical, psychological, financial, sexual and neglect. Please donate by calling 0208 765 7000 or visiting www.elderabuse.org.uk or simply by sending an e-mail to: getinvolved@elderabuse.org.uk
AEA Free phone helpline operates Mon to Fri, 9am to 5pm – tel: 0808 808 8141
ACTION ON ELDER ABUSE

Contact: Gary Martin

Tel Direct: 0044 (0) 20 8765 7017

Tel Admin: 0044 (0) 20 8765 7000

Fax: 0044 (0) 20 8679 4074

Helpline: 080 8808 8141 UK

Helpline: 1800 940 010 Ireland

e-mail: garymartin@elderabuse.org.uk

Tags: Charities, Crown Prosecution Service, Elder Abuse, Gifts For Others (And Yourself!)

Over 700 organisations and individuals have come together in an Alliance to seek a statutory basis for the work of adult protection in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Establishing the Alliance include representatives from Mencap, Action on Elder Abuse, Alzheimer’s Society, the United Kingdom Home Care Association, Action for Advocacy, Irwin Mitchell solicitors, the School of Social and Health Care at Bournemouth University, Age Concern North Staffordshire, and the Beth Johnson Foundation. Fifty three other organisations are associated members of the Alliance, together with a further six hundred and twenty one individuals.

Gary FitzGerald, Chief Executive of Action on Elder Abuse, said, “The organisations coming together in the Alliance represent older people, people with Learning Disabilities, people with dementia, the Advocacy sector, the Care provider sector, the legal profession and the academic profession. Other key organisations are currently consulting their membership and trustees and I anticipate that they will become full members in due course, leading the Alliance towards its goals. We collectively acknowledge that the current systems are failing to provide the necessary framework to ensure adequate protection for adults at risk of abuse, and we are committed to achieving a system that both protect the rights of adults to live their lives in the manner of their choosing while simultaneously having access to systems that genuinely provide protection.”

David Congdon, Head of Campaigns and Policy at Mencap, said, “The death of Steven Hoskin, the abuses faced by the family with Learning Disabilities in Hounslow, and the concerns we have raised in the ‘Death by Indifference’ report, are all evidence that the current systems are failing to adequately consider and respond to the needs of adults at risk of abuse. We are supporting the Alliance because we believe that a statutory basis for safeguarding adults is the only way forward”.

Neil Hunt, Chief Executive of the Alzheimer’s Society, said, “Alzheimer’s Society champions the rights of people living with dementia and the millions who care for them. Alzheimer’s Society has joined the Safeguarding Adults Alliance to reinforce our commitment to fight any abuse of people living with dementia and put systems in place early to avoid putting them at risk.”

Mike Padgham, Chair of the United Kingdom Homecare Association Ltd, said, “The United Kingdom Homecare Association (UKHCA) supports the Alliance to ensure that everyone, whether using a regulated care service or employing a personal assistant, is able to access suitable, vetted and accountable care workers from safe and secure home based care, and that where abuse is suspected or reported, there are responsive statutory systems in place to investigate appropriately and respond.”

Rick Henderson, Chief Executive of Action for Advocacy, said, “As we move towards a new era of personalisation, it is vital that vulnerable adults are safeguarded against ill-treatment and are supported to live full and active lives as citizens. We need investment in measures to prevent abuse as well as tougher sanctions against perpetrators, and independent support for victims to speak out about what is happening to them.”

Jonathan Peacock, Partner at Irwin Mitchell solicitors, said, “In England, Wales and Northern Ireland there is currently no legislation providing protection when an older person (or other adult) is subjected to abuse. Having worked on many cases involving horrific financial, sexual and physical abuse of the elderly and vulnerable, we believe that there is a need to introduce a legal framework to protect and support individuals both in their homes and within care organisations. As such we are supporting the campaign to tackle these issues along with a call to address the difficulties which at present allow problems to go unchallenged and practices to continue unchanged.”

NOTES TO EDITORS:

For further information on this news release please call 020 8765 7000 and speak to Gary Martin.

1. Our current protection systems are effectively discretionary and are failing to reach and protect adults most at risk of abuse. Adult protection in England, Wales and Northern Ireland has no legislative base and relies upon guidance issued under section 7 of the Local Authority Social Services Act 1970. The result is that, while the guidance has been effective in facilitating the creation of some form of adult protection system in all local authority areas, it has failed to deliver on a number of important issues, e.g. there is a lack of consistency and equality across areas in terms of the construction and level of adult protection systems provided, there is variable collaboration across statutory agencies, there are significant funding and staffing deficiencies in many areas, there is no consistency in the timing and duration of investigations, and there is no power to ensure access to victims, or to ensure safe outcomes.

2. Organisations in the Alliance include: Action on Elder Abuse, A Dignified Revolution, Action for Advocacy, Advocacy Matters, Age Concern Barnsley, Age Concern Bedfordshire, Age Concern Bolton, Age Concern Carlisle & District, Age Concern Cheshire, Age Concern Coventry, Age Concern Croydon, Age Concern Croydon, Age Concern Droitwich Spa and District, Age Concern England, Age Concern Gateshead, Age Concern Hammersmith and Fulham, Age Concern Hillingdon, Age Concern Ilfracombe & District, Age Concern Kingston upon Thames, Age Concern Leeds, Age Concern Lewisham and Southwark, Age Concern Lincoln, Age Concern merstham, Redhill and Reigate, Age Concern Newcastle, Age Concern Norfolk, Age Concern North Dorset, Age Concern North Staffordshire, Age Concern North Staffordshire, Age Concern North Staffs,Age Concern North Yorkshire, Age Concern Reading, Age Concern Solihull, Age Concern Stockport, Age Concern Stockport, Age Concern Tiverton, Cullompton and District, Age Concern Torbay, Age Concern Waltham Forest, Age Concern West Norfolk District, Age Concern Wigan Borough, Age Concern Milton Keynes, Alzheimer’s Society New Forest, British Association of Social Workers, Beth Johnson Foundation, Bupa Care Services, Community and District Nursing Association, English Community Care Association, Ekta Project, ERoSH, Four Seasons Health Care, Knowsley Pensioners and Advocacy Information Service, Melville Housing Association, Mencap, National Care Association, Practitioners Alliance Against the Abuse of Vulnerable Adults, Royal College of Nursing, School of Health and Social Care, Bournemouth University, Scope, Speaking Up, The Stroke Association, United Kingdom Home Care Association

3. Action on Elder Abuse is a national charity which aims to protect, and prevent the abuse of, vulnerable older people. It does this by raising awareness of the issues, encouraging education and by giving information and support to those in need. It has the only national freephone helpline dedicated to this cause and callers may ring from Monday to Friday between the hours of 9.00am and 5.00pm on 080 8808 8141 from the UK or 1800 940 010 from the Republic of Ireland for confidential support and information. Website: www.elderabuse.org.uk

4. Irwin Michell solicitors have a specialist team of lawyers who can advise on issues of elder abuse. They have been handling various types of claims on behalf of elderly clients for a number of years, seeking to improve the quality of our clients’ lives. They have the expertise needed to advise in this field, and understand the anxiety caused to clients and their families. Cases handled by the team often focus upon neglect in hospitals and nursing homes. They act for a large number of elderly clients or their relatives who are unhappy about the treatment which has been provided. Concerns often relate to the development of pressure sores, falls, malnutrition and dehydration. Often these problems could have been avoided with proper nursing care. Website: http://www.irwinmitchell.com/Personal/PersonalInjury/ElderAbuseClaims/default.htm#2
5. The United Kingdom Homecare Association Ltd (UKHCA) is the professional association of home care providers from the independent, voluntary, not-for-profit and statutory sectors. UKHCA helps organisations that provide social care, which may include nursing services, to people in their own homes, promoting high standards of care and providing representation with national and regional policy-makers and regulators. The Association represents over 1,600 members across the United Kingdom, in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Website: http://www.ukhca.co.uk/
6. Mencap is the UK’s leading learning disability organisation, working for over 60 years with people with a learning disability, their families and carers. With more than 6000 staff, they learn and develop good practice, and work in partnership with many others to provide innovative and high quality services, advice and support. They believe in being people centred – empowering, including and respecting all people with a learning disability. Through campaigning work and delivery of tailored services, they support the move towards personalisation so that people can get the support they need in the way they want it. We also work in specialist fields including supporting people with profound and multiple learning disabilities, learning disability and mental health, general health and conditions associated with ageing. Website: http://www.mencap.org.uk/
7. Alzheimer’s Society is a membership organisation, which works to improve the quality of life of people affected by dementia in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Many of their 25,000 members have personal experience of dementia, as carers, health professionals or people with dementia themselves, and their experiences help to inform the charity’s work. Website: http://alzheimers.org.uk/site/index.php

8. Action for Advocacy (A4A) is the central point of information on independent advocacy in England and Wales. They have built a reputation as the leading authority on the development of effective advocacy services for vulnerable and disempowered people and publish Planet Advocacy – the UK’s leading generic advocacy publication – as a quarterly magazine. Action for Advocacy (A4A) also organises a range of subsidised training for Advocates and Advocacy Scheme Managers, provide a range of support for advocacy schemes including information and resources, responding to telephone queries about organisational development and one-to-one support through our Standards Support Project, and provide a range of support for advocacy schemes including information and resources, responding to telephone queries about organisational development and one-to-one support through our Standards Support Project. Website: http://www.actionforadvocacy.org.uk

9. The School of Health & Social Care (HSC) at Bournemouth University has a long standing reputation for providing student-centred, innovative programmes of education that prepare and develop health and social care practitioners. They take pride in the quality of their educational experience, working closely with partners in health, social care and private service provision to ensure studying at HSC leads to fitness for practice and purpose.
They offer a wide variety of under graduate programmes- the four branches of nursing, midwifery, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, operating department practice, social care, community and youth work and, in conjunction with partners, chiropractic, exercise science, nutrition and early years. In addition, there are many courses for qualified health and social care professionals who may wish to continue their personal and professional development at under graduate or post graduate levels. Website: http://www.bournemouth.ac.uk/hsc/

10. Age Concern North Staffordshire is a local registered Charity and has worked since 1991 to promote the well-being of all older people living in the Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle-under-Lyme and Staffordshire Moorlands areas, and to help make later life a fulfilling and enjoyable experience. They work closely with colleagues in statutory agencies and other voluntary sector organisations to improve services for older people and to enable them to fulfil their life potential. Website: http://www.acns.org.uk/

11. The Beth Johnson Foundation strives to link practice, policy and research and to engage with older people to ensure its work reflects their views and opinions. At the present time the Foundation has three key themes of work: Intergenerational Practice, Midlife, and Health and Advocacy. In disseminating its findings the Foundation regularly publishes reports and papers and contributes to conferences and journals. It places great emphasis on its work being evaluated and provides developmental support and evaluation services to other organisations. Fundamental to its approach is a commitment to partnership and collaboration at all levels and this is reflected in the broad range of individuals and partners the Foundation works with. Based in Stoke-on-Trent the Foundation is engaged in work across the whole of the UK and is involved in a number of international collaborations. Website: http://www.bjf.org.uk/

Tags: Adult Protection, Adult Protection Committees, Charities, Elder Abuse, Gifts For Others (And Yourself!), Safeguarding Adults

Action on Elder Abuse, the only charity in the UK dealing exclusively with the abuse of older people is appalled by the findings of the Local Government Ombudsman (LGO), Anne Seex, that South Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council failed to adequately protect two elderly residents of a sheltered housing scheme, who suffered intimidation and harassment at the hands of their Warden

The LGO’s report, issued today (7 August 2008) finds that major Council failures meant the complainants suffered “harassment and fear whilst living in what should have been a supportive environment,” and were forced to move away from their home town when the Council failed to properly implement its own adult protection system.

Ms Seex says: “Far more significant than its failure to follow its own procedures is the Council’s grave substantive failure to undertake any proper investigation of serious allegations about the behaviour of an employee in a position of responsibility for vulnerable people and its inaction in the face of very persuasive evidence of serious problems at the sheltered scheme. This was maladministration with potentially very serious consequences.”

Commenting on the report Gary FitzGerald, Chief Executive of Action on Elder Abuse said “the No Secrets adult protection system is intended to be the last line of defence for vulnerable adults facing abuse, but this report implies that the Council were merely paying lip service to it. This is both appalling and dangerous.

Those vulnerable older people endured a catalogue of abuse only to be ignored when they sought assistance from adult protection. This couple were placed in the impossible situation of being supported by a warden who they described as bullying, harassing, intimidating, publicly humiliating and abusing them. Rather than providing them with a safe environment within which to live, and treating them with respect they deserved, they were subjected to a culture of intimidation and fear.

The findings in the report make pitiful and shocking reading. It is appalling that the council failed to appropriately implement its own protection policy, a situation which obviously placed these people at serious risk. There should be a full and independent inquiry into exactly what the council was doing in this regard and why it appears to have failed so miserably in ensuring an adequate protective response to these older people.

AEA is calling for the new laws that will give older people the same level of protection as children, similar to those in Scotland. The Council could only behave in such a cavalier fashion because these policies have no legislative requirements, unlike the situation with child protection. We are campaigning for the current review of the No Secrets guidance to provide the statutory framework that will truly protect and stop abuse in its tracks, and we would encourage everyone to join us in this campaign.”

NOTES TO EDITORS:

For further information on this news release please call Gary Martin

Action on Elder Abuse is the only national charity which aims to protect, and prevent the abuse of, vulnerable older people. It does this by raising awareness of the issues, encouraging education and by giving information and support to those in need. It has the only national free phone helpline dedicated to this cause and callers may ring from Monday to Friday between the hours of 9.00am and 5.00pm on 080 8808 8141 from the UK or 1800 940 010 from the Republic of Ireland for confidential support and information. For further information on Action on Elder Abuse go to website: www.elderabuse.org.uk
The Review of No Secrets was commenced by Ivan Lewis, the Minister for Social Care, on 20 February 2008, and AEA have been working closely with the Dept of Health on a formal consultation document to be issued sometime in September 2008.
Vulnerability, Risk and Empowerment Conference, Edinburgh Conference Centre, 17th September 2008. For details see website. Speakers include:
Sir Roger Singleton, Chair of the Independent Safeguarding Authority, Gary FitzGerald, CEO Action on Elder Abuse, Robin Van Den Hende – Policy and Campaigns Officer Respond/ Voice UK/ Ann Craft Trust and District Judge Marilyn Mornington

Tags: Adult Protection, Anne Seex, child protection, Elder Abuse, Gary FitzGerald, Ivan Lewis

Nathan Mann, 20, who admitted murdering two women as they lay in their beds at a nursing home, was sentenced to life at Nottingham Crown Court today and was told he would serve a minimum of 24 years and three months, by judge Mr Justice McCombe.

Nathan Mann crept through an unlocked window before killing Rashmi Badiani, 56, and 72-year-old Radhaben Chauhan in an “unprovoked and cowardly attack”, police said.

Mann, formerly of Avonside Drive, Leicester, entered guilty pleas to the murders at Nottingham Crown Court today as the victims’ families looked on from the public gallery.

But he refused to accept prosecution allegations that he was involved in “sexual conduct” with the pair, claiming he cannot remember it happening.

Commenting on the case Gary Fitzgerald, Chief Executive of Action on Elder Abuse said “……our free phone number at Action on Elder Abuse – tel: 0 808 808 8141. Our helpline received over 14,000 calls reporting abuse since 2000.

AEA is calling for the new laws that will give older people the same level of protection as children

We need urgent attention to be given to protecting older people and we are now calling for ‘everyone’ – including Government to make a difference. There can be no hiding place for those who choose to commit crimes and the abuse of older people.”

NOTES TO EDITORS:

For further information on this news release please call Gary Martin

Action on Elder Abuse is the only national charity which aims to protect, and prevent the abuse of, vulnerable older people. It does this by raising awareness of the issues, encouraging education and by giving information and support to those in need. It has the only national free phone helpline dedicated to this cause and callers may ring from Monday to Friday between the hours of 9.00am and 5.00pm on 080 8808 8141 from the UK or 1800 940 010 from the Republic of Ireland for confidential support and information. For further information on Action on Elder Abuse go to website: www.elderabuse.org.uk
Gary other details to draw from or use…..

Mann, dressed in jeans and a blue hooped sweater, heard judge Mr Justice McCombe’s starting point for his prison term will be 30 years.

In a statement issued after the hearing, Detective Chief Inspector Phil Smith, of Leicestershire Police, described Mann as “a violent and dangerous individual”.

“He took the lives of two defenceless, vulnerable women in an unprovoked and cowardly attack as they lay in their beds,” he said.

“This was a horrific incident that has devastated two families now united in grief. Today’s guilty pleas have spared them the distress that a full trial would bring.”

Outside court, the victims’ relatives spoke of their grief.

Mrs Badiana’s brother-in-law, Dilip Popat, said Mann had taken the smiles from his family’s faces and made their lives a misery.

“We have lost a dear and loved member of our family and that pain will never go away,” he said. “Rashmi was always ready to help others and never hurt anybody.”

Mrs Chauhan’s son-in-law, Vinjay Solanki, said his mother-in-law was a strong-willed lady who had devoted her life to helping others.

“She was recovering from a stroke and looking forward to her grandson’s wedding,” he said.

“Mum was loved by all her family and always had a smile on her face. She will always be missed and remembered by us.

“Mann took away from us one very precious person who can never be replaced. We will never forgive him and he must pay for his crime.”

The women’s bodies were discovered by a member of staff in the room they shared in the early hours of November 7.

A DVD containing images of the crime scene made for “very distressing viewing”, said Timothy Spencer QC, prosecuting.

It should not be shown in open court, he said, to “preserve what dignity we can for these ladies”.

He said: “Whatever might have been going on in this defendant’s head, the facts cannot be disputed. And the facts indicate that there was sexual conduct involved in both killings.”

Forensic evidence linked Mann to the clothing of the deceased, said police.

But Paul Mann QC, defending, said: “We know the state of the ladies concerned. He (Mann) accepts that is the case. He has no recollection of being responsible and therefore can make no admission about it.”

The lawyer told the court that his client displayed “very strange behaviour” to relatives at the time of the killings.

“In layman’s terms, he certainly showed signs of being ‘a mixed-up kid’,” he said.

A pre-sentence medical report, he said, would help Mr Justice McCombe arrive at the correct sentence.

The case was adjourned until July 30 for the preparation of the report into Mann’s psychological state.

Immediately after the killings, officers warned residents around the nursing home to keep their doors and windows locked in case the killer struck again.

No-one was available for comment today at Hayes Park Nursing Home.

Speaking after today’s hearing, Det Insp Mark Harrison, the second most senior officer in the case, said: “The home was alarmed although the windows on the ground floor were not alarmed and that may be something the home would wish to consider.”

Tags: Avonside Drive, Charity, Elder Abuse, Gary FitzGerald, Justice McCombe, Leicester, Nathan Mann, Radhaben Chauhan, Rashmi Badiani

Nina Strange a senior care worker at Rutland Manor, in Ilkeston was convicted in court of five charges of ill-treatment of elderly people in her care.

The full horror of Nina Strange’s “disgusting” behaviour came to light when the senior healthcare assistant was seen by a trainee care worker who “blew the whistle” on her actions. Giving evidence at a trial at Derby Crown Court, the 20-year-old trainee said she had seen Mrs Strange dip a toothbrush into bath water in which Doreen Walsh, who was incontinent, had defecated, before using it to brush her teeth.

The court also heard that Strange had hit an 88-year-old wheelchair-bound woman across the back of the head, twice hit an 81-year-old man on the head and pulled an 81-year-old woman’s hair as she put her to bed.

Commenting on the case Gary Fitzgerald, Chief Executive of Action on Elder Abuse said “the five charges and conviction of ill-treatment for Nina Strange, a care worker is both horrendous and shocking and it’s almost unthinkable that frail, old people can be treated in such an appalling manner by another human being! And yet, the reality is that the level of calls reporting abuse is on the increase to our free phone number at Action on Elder Abuse –

tel: 0 808 808 8141. Our helpline received over 14,000 calls reporting abuse since 2000.

AEA is calling for the new laws that will give older people the same level of protection as children. The abuse meted out to Doreen Walsh and to other elderly victims by Ms Strange, reflects our concerns and evidence that the level of abuse of the older people occurs with alarming regularity. The Courts and Public need to be made aware of just how serious this problem is and to realise that abuse, as a deliberate callous act or any form of neglect must not be tolerated. Abuse of older people is a crime against society’s most vulnerable and the sentencing should reflect this. We need to send out the message that society will not tolerate such offences.

Amidst this damning case are the positive and highly commendable actions of the 20 year-old trainee care worker who blew the whistle on Ms Strange. We salute her courage.

Far too many media stories highlight situations where colleagues turn a blind eye to unacceptable behaviour or practice because they do not have the confidence to challenge it. The situations where senior management or colleagues know of alleged abuse but fail to act – must stop!

We need urgent attention to be given to this scandal and we are now calling for ‘everyone’ – including Government to make a difference. There can be no secrets and hiding place for the abuse of older people.”

NOTES TO EDITORS:

For further information on this news release please call Gary Martin

Contact: Gary Martin

Tel Admin: 0044 (0) 20 8765 7000

Fax: 0044 (0) 20 8679 4074

Helpline: 080 8808 8141 UK

Helpline: 1800 940 010 Ireland

Action on Elder Abuse is the only national charity which aims to protect, and prevent the abuse of, vulnerable older people. It does this by raising awareness of the issues, encouraging education and by giving information and support to those in need. It has the only national free phone helpline dedicated to this cause and callers may ring from Monday to Friday between the hours of 9.00am and 5.00pm on 080 8808 8141 from the UK or 1800 940 010 from the Republic of Ireland for confidential support and information. For further information on Action on Elder Abuse go to website: www.elderabuse.org.uk

Tags: Charity, Derby Crown Court, Doreen Walsh, Elder Abuse, Gary FitzGerald, Nina Strange, Rutland Manor

21st Century Training for Homecare Workers on Abuse and Protection

Action on Elder Abuse, the only charity in the UK dealing exclusively with the abuse of older people is today launching a new Training pack, the ‘HomeFront’, aimed at domiciliary care workers. The launch will take place at a conference of the United Kingdom Homecare Association England in Leeds.

The HomeFront training pack offers “off the shelf” training for workers who are completing their NVQ Level 2 or Scottish National Vocational Qualification in Health and Social Care. It can also be used as general abuse awareness training for agencies and their staff.

Commenting on the launch Gary Fitzgerald, Chief Executive of Action on Elder Abuse said, “Domiciliary Care is a wonderfully enabling service that allows thousands of older people to remain active in their own homes. We are seeing more money than ever being spent by local authorities on such services and increasingly workers are supporting people with very complex needs. This is also a sector which has experienced increased regulation, both of organisations and individual workers. It is therefore essential that training on abuse and protection for these workers is of the highest standards. ”

Fitzgerald continues, “We are delighted to be launching our training at the UKHCA conference as we have enjoyed a fruitful partnership with them over the last 18 months, including providing a joint adult protection tool kit. We hope that member organisations will use this new training to their advantage, the advantage of their staff, and most importantly to the advantage and well being of older people using the service”

UKHCA’s head of policy and communication, Colin Angel said:

“Homecare workers have privileged access to service user’s homes and in many cases homecare workers and their managers are the only people who recognise and raise the alert to situations of domestic abuse and familial neglect, so their role is crucial. The publication of the HomeFront training pack for homecare workers is a welcome development in the fight against abuse of older people.”

NOTES TO EDITORS:

For further information on this news release please call 020 8765 7000 and speak to Daniel Blake.

Action on Elder Abuse is a national charity which aims to protect, and prevent the abuse of, vulnerable older people. It does this by raising awareness of the issues, encouraging education and by giving information and support to those in need. It has the only national free phone helpline dedicated to this cause and callers may ring from Monday to Friday between the hours of 9.00am and 5.00pm on 080 8808 8141 from the UK or 1800 940 010 from the Republic of Ireland for confidential support and information. For further information on Action on Elder Abuse go to website: www.elderabuse.org.uk

For More Information on Charities visit http://www.charities-direct.co.uk/

Tags: Charity, Domiciliary Care, Elder Abuse, Gary FitzGerald, HomeFront, Social Care

Action on Elder Abuse has welcomed the publication of council star ratings by The Commission for Social Care showing growing improvement in social care services for the past two years.  However the charity is concerned about recent serious abuse cases that do not appear to have impacted on the ratings issued.�

      Gary FitzGerald, Chief Executive of Action on Elder Abuse (AEA) said, ‘While star ratings have proved to be very positive and the ongoing improvement of local authority social care services is welcomed. We are concerned about recent high profile cases of horrendous abuse involving two adults with learning disabilities and two older people do not appear to be reflected in the star ratings given to two authorities”�

      The Hounslow case involving two adults with learning disabilities and The South Tyneside case involving older people living in sheltered housing were high profile cases that had a real human impact and cost.  In both cases safeguarding systems utterly failed to protect those in need.

      Continued FitzGerald, ‘At a time when CSCI has rightly prioritised safeguarding and recently published the excellent “Safeguarding Adults” study it is highly disappointing to see that the star ratings of both councils involved do not reflect the systematic failings highlighted in both cases.  Safeguarding Adults, unlike child protection does not currently have a legislative basis and suffers from a lack of governance and accountability at both local and national levels.  CSCI have stated that there will be a direct correlation between the results of thematic safeguarding inspections and the overall performance rating given to local authorities.  We are therefore concerned that in spite of these recent cases Hounslow and South Tyneside have received three and two stars respectively.  We will be pressing CSCI for urgent talks to discuss this issue further. 

      Concluded FitzGerald, ‘When safeguarding systems and processes fail, the human cost and misery is enormous.   The people involved in these tragic cases deserved better.  As the body responsible for assessing the performance of local authorities with social services responsibilities it is important that CSCI sends out clear messages that such failings will not be tolerated or accepted.  CSCI must acknowledge the suffering of the victims and take the lead in order to prevent a repeat of these tragic cases occurring to any one ever again” 

ENDS

Notes to Editors: 

Action on Elder Abuse is the only organisation working across the United Kingdom to protect, and prevent the abuse of vulnerable older people.

CSCI is the inspectorate for adults’ social care in England, responsible for regulating and inspecting all social care providers – whether in the public or independent sector, and for assessing the performance of local councils in delivering their adults’ social services functions

  The recent Hounslow case concerned the failure of the local authority to protect two adults with learning disabilities.  As a consequence they had pepper and fluid forced into their eyes, were forced to drink urine, eat dog biscuits and human and dog faeces, had kitchen cleaner sprayed into mouth, face and hair, and were slashed repeatedly with a knife.  No Secrets failed to protect them (See: http://www.24dash.com/news/);

  South Tyneside was recently criticised by the Local Ombudsman for failing to implement No Secrets procedures, resulting in two older people suffering ‘harassment and fear while living in what should have been a supportive environment’.  They described the perpetrator as bullying, harassing, publicly humiliating and abusing them (see: http://www.communitycare.co.uk/);

Action on Elder Abuse depends on charitable donations to work towards its objectives of protecting older people and putting a stop to all kinds of abuse e.g. physical, psychological, financial, sexual and neglect. Please donate by calling 0208 765 7000 or visiting www.elderabuse.org.uk or simply by sending an e-mail to: getinvolved@elderabuse.org.uk

For More Information on Charities visit http://www.charities-direct.co.uk/

Tags: Charities, Elder Abuse, Gary FitzGerald, Safeguarding Adults, UK Charity