The frail and the elderly have been deceived by devious and disingenuous politicians into believing that following a lifetime of paying taxes and National Insurance contributions, the state would provide for their care in old age and sickness.

Clearly, this is not the case. Recently, the Commissioner for Social Care has stated that the frail and elderly cannot expect to receive assistance or support until they become acutely ill and will have to rely increasingly on family and friends for vital support.

A report by Sir Derek Wanless stated that care services for the elderly were inadequate and that massive efforts should be made to help them remain in their own homes. To achieve this end, Government spending would need to treble to £30 billion over the next two decades.

The Government has not implemented or responded to this report, and whilst the current situation is totally unacceptable, it can only grow worse as the population ages. For example, by 2028 the number of over 85s is expected to double to 1.8 million.

CARERS

Recently the Government has launched a campaign recognising the urgent need to assist carers as they struggle to look after their elderly and/or disabled relatives. This initiative is to be welcomed as carers are the bond which holds the nation together, selflessly giving of their time for the sake of their dependents.

However, almost simultaneously it has been reported that some Local Authorities are intent on closing respite Day Centres and Residential Homes. Such a move will cause carers and patients great distress and in this connection, the Local Government Association has warned that care will have to be withdrawn from 400,000 of the elderly unless Central Government funding is increased.

Government statements of intent as regards alleviating the burdens of carers will be monitored by Popular Alliance and no doubt by the various charities devoted to the elderly.

NEGLECT AND ABUSE

A Health Minister has made the shameful admission that elderly people are being starved in care homes and hospitals. The Minister stated that an official campaign is to be launched to improve the quality of food offered to thousands of vulnerable old people, at the same time giving a starkly frank account of the daily suffering in institutions where cost cutting and indifference are rife.

The elderly who become ill due to nutritional neglect cost the NHS an estimated £7.3 billion per year.

Further statistics provided by the Commissioner for Social Care Inspection show that 15% of care homes and 20% of nursing homes are failing to meet key targets on meals and mealtimes. Also, many Health Service Hospital Trusts are not feeding elderly patients properly.

Whilst the Minister will announce measures to deal with this problem, there will be no new funding and this initiative will be closely monitored by Popular Alliance and other interested parties to check that it is not a "flash in the pan".

A recent report from Help the Aged claimed that half a million elderly people suffer abuse at any one time and almost half are victims of their own families. This report comes at a time of great concern over the suspicion of bullying and violence against the elderly in care homes and hospitals.

Both the Commissioner for Social Care Inspection and the Social Services lack statutory powers to enforce adult protection, as a crucial part of the Mental Incapacity Bill proposed by the Law Commission in 1995 was never carried into law.

A recent survey has exposed the fact that age discrimination is rife in the NHS and although being aware of this problem for years, the NHS has failed to remove ageist attitudes even in the treatment of serious illnesses.

Life saving treatments are withheld from the elderly on financial grounds, and in this connection, there is evidence of discrimination against women.

Popular Alliance solutions

The immediate need is for a wide ranging review of the current welfare and care system with detailed examination of the roles of Central Government, Local Authorities, the NHS, Nursing and Residential Homes, together with the needs of individual carers.

Increased Government spending will be necessary but it must be affordable without putting too much of a burden on the taxpayer. Therefore the most cost effective solutions must be sought, which allow the independence and dignity of the individual to be maintained.

Specific areas have been identified which require immediate attention and these are set out below :-

Elderly at home needing basic care

If basic care, i.e., cleaning, shopping, washing etc is provided, possibly on a part-time basis by a family member, then the care allowance would be paid to the carer. This allowance would not be reduced by virtue of any other pensions and allowances received by the carer or the person receiving care. If the care is provided by outside carers or Local Authorities, and the cost is greater than the care allowance, then the excess within reasonable limits would be met by the Government.

Elderly at home needing constant care and medical attention

The care conditions set out above would apply with the added involvement of Health Visitors, District Nurses and local GPs.

Elderly in Residential Homes and Nursing Homes.

The costs will be met by the State once personal savings fall below £60,000. (Currently £21,500)

Carers

The unique position of carers in the home needs to be recognised by Government and the General Public. There are six million carers in the UK and the support they provide adding up to over £57 billion per year enables large number of the elderly and infirm to remain in their own homes.

Popular Alliance would introduce the following benefits for carers :-

(i) Grant full state pension rights to those carers who are forced to give up work to care for relatives.

(ii) The Carers Allowance would be increased to £84 per week (the level of the basic state pension).

(iii) During temporary absences from work, National Insurance Contributions would be credited.

(iv) End unfair benefit rules and provide better financial provision for carers over 65. For those under retirement age, extra resources would be provided to compensate for loss of earnings - see (i) and (ii) above.

(v) Assessment of the levels of support needed by Carers to take no longer than 6 weeks.

(vi) Provide regular short breaks for Carers and reliable emergency care packages.

(vii) Provide a national helpline for Carers.

(viii) To eliminate much of the unnecessary bureaucracy with which Carers have to contend.

Neglect and Abuse

Popular Alliance would introduce legislation which would establish both standards of quality and quantity for food in Residential Homes, Nursing Homes and NHS Hospitals. Both the CSCI and Social Services would be given statutory powers to inspect institutions and to enforce compliance.

Abuse of the elderly in the form of bullying, violence and theft in their own homes, Care Homes and Hospitals would be made illegal under the above legislation and would result in prosecution of those responsible.

Training in recognising signs of abuse of the elderly would be given to Police, Doctors, Nurses, Social Workers and Care Staff and abuse of the elderly would be dealt with on the same basis as the abuse of children.

NHS

Whilst age discrimination has no place in a civilised society, the NHS must take action to counter any ageist attitudes held by its staff. It is recognised that on occasions, treatment may be withheld on strictly clinical grounds.

Treatment will not be withheld on financial grounds as the appropriate funding will be made available.