Dignity Ambassador speaks out about elderly care

2010-01-14 22:50:58

TV presenter Sir Michael Parkinson, who was appointed as Dignity Ambassador to the Government in 2008, has spoken about the ‘downright unacceptable’ treatment that elderly people receive in the nation’s care homes and hospitals. In a report detailing his first year in the Ambassador role, Sir Michael talks about the distressing situations he has experienced both firsthand and through the letters he has received from the public. Common problems include elderly people not being given enough food and drink, or not being given the help they need to eat, call alarms being ignored and a widespread lack of respect from care and hospital staff when dealing with patients. He writes: ‘It defies all logic to spend vast sums of money to keep people in hospital or a care home, to give them expensive drugs and then to forget to ensure they get the most basic of human needs.’ He also calls for people to stop stereotyping the elderly, which can prevent them being treated with respect and dignity, pointing out that such treatment of younger people would result in ‘an outcry’. The publication of Sir Michael’s report coincides with the Government’s announcement that it plans to launch a ‘Dignity Action Day’ and introduce a £50,000 grant that will be awarded to projects that encourage and enable dignity in care. Health secretary Andy Burnham comments: ‘Dignity must be at the heart of care. To achieve this we are transforming the care and support system to make it fairer, simpler and more affordable for everyone.’ You can read Sir Michael’s report in full, and find out more about the new Government initiatives, at the Department of Health’s website.