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Elder abuse 'affecting thousands' Elder abuse 'affecting thousands'
(about 1 hour later)
Hundreds of thousands of elderly people are being abused in their own homes, research is expected to suggest.Hundreds of thousands of elderly people are being abused in their own homes, research is expected to suggest.
The problem of elder abuse has been known for some time, but the study, funded by the government and charity Comic Relief, suggests its prevalence. The study, funded by the government and Comic Relief, suggests that in eight out of 10 cases the abuser is someone well known to the elderly person.
In eight out of 10 cases, the abuse is carried out by a person the elderly person trusts the most, such as a partner or family member, it will say. It can involve physical abuse or neglect and sometimes financial mistreatment.
It is usually physical abuse or neglect and sometimes financial mistreatment. Ivan Lewis, the care services minister, said there would soon be new guidelines for official handling of abuse cases.
'Disturbing'
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that abusers of older people should be treated in a similar way to child abusers by the courts.
"The findings [of the study] are disturbing. I think there are real cultural issues in our society in the way we treat older people," said Mr Lewis
"What we need to aim for is a society where we are as outraged by the abuse and neglect of an older person as we are by the abuse of a child, and we are a long, long way from it."
The minister said that Britain's ageing population would make elder abuse an increasingly important problem.
At present, society is at the same position in coming to terms with it as was the case with child abuse 20 or 30 years ago, he said.
A quarter of cases involved money being stolen from the elderly victim, the independent two-year study is expected to find.A quarter of cases involved money being stolen from the elderly victim, the independent two-year study is expected to find.
It will also suggest that in half of elder abuse cases the victim lives in the same home as the perpetrator.It will also suggest that in half of elder abuse cases the victim lives in the same home as the perpetrator.
We couldn't get people to listen Jenny PurcellFriend concerned for elderly manWe couldn't get people to listen Jenny PurcellFriend concerned for elderly man
One woman Jenny Purcell, told the BBC she had tried to raise the alarm after seeing an elderly friend suffer abuse.One woman Jenny Purcell, told the BBC she had tried to raise the alarm after seeing an elderly friend suffer abuse.
"We believe he was abused, neglected and financially ripped off by a member of his family," she said."We believe he was abused, neglected and financially ripped off by a member of his family," she said.
She said a relative meant to be caring for the man had instead stolen tens of thousands of pounds from him.She said a relative meant to be caring for the man had instead stolen tens of thousands of pounds from him.
She said she contacted doctors and social services after seeing her elderly friend and his home deteriorate.She said she contacted doctors and social services after seeing her elderly friend and his home deteriorate.
"We couldn't get through the red tape," she said. "We couldn't get people to listen."We couldn't get through the red tape," she said. "We couldn't get people to listen.
"It's such a hot potato - people don't want to be involved with it.""It's such a hot potato - people don't want to be involved with it."
The man, who was a war veteran, died aged 90.The man, who was a war veteran, died aged 90.
A study by Help the Aged earlier this year suggested half a million elderly people in the UK were suffering some form of abuse or neglect.A study by Help the Aged earlier this year suggested half a million elderly people in the UK were suffering some form of abuse or neglect.
They faced physical, emotional, sexual or financial mistreatment, its survey suggested.They faced physical, emotional, sexual or financial mistreatment, its survey suggested.