Express Mortgages Express Loans Bingo Lose Weight Franchising Dating Shopping Book Shop Find Spare Parts Cut Your Bills Wine Shop Legal Store FlatShare

HELP US TO END THE NATION'S SHAME

Thursday October 11,2007

Comment Speech Bubble Have your say(18)

THE Daily Express has launched a crusade to transform the scandalous treatment of our elderly.

If a civilised society is judged by its duty of care towards those who most need its help, then this country should hang its head in shame.

These are people whose hard work – and taxes – have contributed to this country over a lifetime. They have brought up families and lived through war and other hardships.

*******************************************************************************************************
WANT TO JOIN OUR RESPECT FOR THE ELDERLY CRUSADE?

Click HERE NOW to have the Daily Express delivered straight to your door

*******************************************************************************************************

Yet at a time in their lives when they deserve some appreciation and the opportunity to enjoy their retirement, the elderly are all too often neglected.

Thousands of old people languish in filthy hospital wards, frail and alone, or are abandoned in nursing homes which treat them with shocking disregard. To compound the insult, many are forced to sell everything they own to pay for such care.

We know many of our readers make extraordinary sacrifices to look after elderly parents and loved ones.

But the system betrays their efforts and, more to the point, the millions of old people it is supposed to help.

That is why the Daily Express now commits itself to crusade for this forgotten generation.

Over the coming days and weeks, we will highlight why decades of miserly government have decimated specialist wards and care homes and how shocking cases of abuse have been covered up.

More importantly, we’ll show how you can help change things for the better and the measures you can take to improve the lives of your own family and friends.

Together, we can perhaps, at last, give the elderly of Britain the dignity and respect they deserve.

HELP US TO END THE NATIONS SHAME.

28.04.08, 12:58pm

Please forgive me, 'myself even being one of the referred ! There are proceedures in place in a free land / democracy ? we are given 'Free
Speech'........! doff cap, knucle
forelock, "Thankee Squire"
Just how many 'elderly' are there in the UK ?
Perhaps not all elderly are suffering, what of the 'priveledged classes' ? To be entirly honest ' One ' is the poorest elderly person one knows ! This is probably ones own fault as one has led one hell of a life ! Every day is Christmas Day for this one, attitude , attitude, attitude, Bowed out of Grammar Scool to travel the world whilst it was still young. One enjoys good health, and did indeed see the world,
it's inhabitants / characters.
No elderly folks retirement home for this one 'Thankeee veryyy much Squire.' One will load ones boat with 'hooch' and sail into the sunset when the time comes, 'live in hope ! '........

• Posted by: juan01 • Report Comment

HELP US TO END THE NATIONS SHAME

21.12.07, 11:59am

Firstly I admit I am a pensioner and yes I am self motivated but I believe that it need not cost a fortune to alleviate some of the worst problems we are enduring and here are some suggestions

Increase the tax threshold for over 65's to £15,000 a year

Get rid of the costly Gordon Brown so called Tax Credit which actually should be called a the TAX PENALTY system and replace it with a reasonable pension ( the cost would probably be covered by the saving in doing away with the tax credit farce department)

Simplify income tax forms so that you enter all income from whatever source and this would help anomilies like a millionaires wife receiving child benefit and I am not advocating this in detrement to millionaires because in the main they have worked hard to acheieve their money

Why, if true,am I paying tax to give child benefit to some Pole or Albanian or other who says??? he has kids back home (When did Poles Albanians Etc pay NI contribuitions to the UK Economy)
Why am I paying for Goverment Translators IF YOU CANT SPEAK ENGLISH PAY FOR YOUR OWN TRANSLATOR AND IF YOU CANT AFFORD ONE YOU WILL SIGN AN AGREEMENT TO PAY THE COST OF SAME TRANSLATOR or ASK A FAMILY OR A FRIEND IF IT IS GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU TO COLLECT MY TAX £'S THEN YOU ARE GOOD ENOUGH TO LEARN THE LANGUAGE

I can think of many more ways to save Billions of £'S to be able to pay a reasonable pension to our over 65's

Sincerely

The Silver Surfer

• Posted by: silversurfer • Report Comment

OUTRAGIOUS TREATMENT

17.11.07, 12:05pm

The way we treat our elderly population is a disgrace and I've stated that many times in my role as a councillor. Unfortunately, I am in a minority group and can't change anything by myself.
Those that accepted the government changes to abandon wardens in care homes ought to hang their heads in shame. Councils are short of money thanks to government imposed rules but they still have enough for translation services and promoting minority festivals.
It's time they got their priorities right and started looking after those who have contributed to this society and not those who wish to exploit it. Welfare should be a failsafe not a lifestyle, get the scroungers out to work.

• Posted by: Lastkingoftheenglish • Report Comment

CSCI NOT QUICK ENOUGH TO ACT

13.11.07, 12:11pm

As someone who has worked for 26 years in the care sector in varrious roles. I feel that from my observations & experience that CSCI is not as effective as it should be. I have been invoulved in reporting bad practice & abuse but CSCI are slow to take effective action. We need a better way of protecting vulnerable people.
Prisoners get more protection!! They have 'prison visitors' to protect their 'rights'
I think all care settings should be visited by 'Visitors' who are independant of CSCI. I would be happy to do this and would know what to look out for. I currently assess care staff working towards thier NVQ & am concerned at some of the bad practice I have seen. I do report it & in one severe case the home eventually closed, this took too long. We need to have systems in place to protect people & deal with abuse Quickly

• Posted by: jojam • Report Comment

HELP US TO END THE NATION'S SHAME

31.10.07, 9:13am

When the government actually listen to the people of this country they will realise that they no longer create the standards that we demand.
If a country was to be dismantled to better fit the economic structure that is Europe then this nation is it.

The Labour party have:
Ignored our elderley
Sent troops to war with poor provision
Closed Hospitals
Closed schools
Sold property and land that belongs to the people.
Sold part of the Gold reserve at a loss.
Opened the borders
Dumned down being British
Anihilated being English
Sold school playing fields
Sold off and dumned down the Post office
Ignored the wishes of the indiginous population whilst pandering to immigrants.
Signed treaty/constitution giving over rights of self determination.
Raided out pensions that we have worked for all our life.
Pandered to the dictats of PC European law which is a farce because we are the only ones to adhere to it.
Ignored the farmers
Ignored the fishing industry
THEY SHOULD BE SHOT not paid as ministers they are traitors and we should kick them and any other party out that does not GIVE TO US WHAT IS OURS.
They are elected to run the country not to give it away...Time to act.

• Posted by: songbird • Report Comment

CARING AT HOME - LUCKY YOU!

15.10.07, 11:47pm

Am reading the following the Crusade with great interest. Unfortunately do not expect that much will change even should the Crusade be successful in certain areas - there are too many things wrong with our treatment/care/provision for the elderly to be put right apart from possibly bits and pieces over a lengthy period of time.
Loved the articles on 15 October about caring at home and Ann Widdecombe's article on Saturday. Having an elderly parent with Alzheimers I would like nothing better than to look after her full time, unfortunately I do not have the premises to be able to do so, nor the money or space to convert my house to assist her (ie downstairs bathroom etc.)I also work full time - for necessities, not luxuries. Unlike many, I don't classify having a 40" TV as a necessity, and have not had a holiday in 10 years. If I was to give up work to care for my mother, then I would in all probability end up losing my house etc. etc. I have looked into it all in great detail and know what assistance I would and wouldn't get and it is an impossible solution. The ladies who are able to look after their parents are so lucky - I know it is extremely stressful, having being an almost full time carer and working at the same time for the past 4 years. My mother was living independently(with care)until fairly recently, however following a minor fall has now ended up for assessment/review/ rehab in our local cottage hospital which specialises in elderly and EMI care. The ward is at the end of a corridor and if you see a nurse during the time you are there you are extremely lucky. I realise that they are very short staffed - however that is not my problem - my problem is my mother and the care/non care she receives. Being left in a chair all day results in her becoming totally non responsive and lethargic and the whole situation following the fall i.e. general hospital admission prior to cottage hospital admision has put added stress on her and exacerbated her Alzheimers. If I were able to look after my mother I would, but whichever way you look at it this is impossible. I totally support people who are able to do this, but please don't classify those of us who can't as non caring - the guilt every time I leave my mother is constantly with me. We are currently looking at the possibility of residential homes for her and the stress of the whole situation becomes worse as you realise that this is NOT what you want for your parent but this may be the best that you can get. I want my mother to be safe, secure and cared for. Is it too much to ask for her?

• Posted by: megan1 • Report Comment