A new report claims that upwards of 700,000 elderly in the UK are subjected to abuse in their own homes or nursing homes. From The Guardian:
"...the rate of violence, bullying and neglect is significantly higher than was thought. Although the rates of serious physical abuse and injury are relatively low, there are high levels of neglect, verbal assaults and behaviour that strips people of their self-esteem.
"Researchers from the King's Institute of Gerontology in London spent two years collecting data on the prevalence of abuse in private homes. The work is the first research funded by Comic Relief, and it was supported by the Department of Health.
"The report will say the harm is often done to those who are particularly vulnerable because they have had a stroke or have dementia and cannot communicate properly. It will suggest that relatives need to look out for signs of abuse.
"Help the Aged's public affairs manager, Kate Jopling, said: 'What concerns us is how abuse can start from someone being dismissive of an older person to increasing levels of nastiness until it actually becomes an abusive relationship, where needs are being totally ignored.'"
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