Shocking rise in abuse against the vulnerable elderly in Kent and Medway
by political editor Paul Francis
Kent has seen a worrying increase in claims that vulnerable
elderly people are being abused in their own homes and while in
residential care, a report has revealed.
Kent and Medway saw 2,756 new referrals made to social services
staff and other agencies such as the police in 2011-2012, in which
allegations of abuse against vulnerable adults were made and upheld
- a 17% increase on the previous year.
The rise was especially steep in east Kent, which accounted for
1,560 cases, representing a 23% increase on the previous year.
In Medway, there were 414 new referrals, representing an
increase of 28%.
The figures are contained in an annual report by the Kent and
Medway Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults executive board, which is
chaired by Andrew Ireland, Kent County Council's social care
director.
The report details how nearly 1,200 of the 2,756 allegations of
abuse were made over the care of elderly people in care homes - a
25% increase on 2010-11.
Kent has about 720 residential care homes, the bulk of which are
privately operated.
More than
900 of the 2,756 allegations - a third - were concerned with
claims that elderly people were being abused in their own
homes.
While a slight reduction in the previous year, the scale will be
a concern to social services chiefs.
A further 96 claims concerned abuse claims involving patients in
hospitals.
East Kent saw the highest number of abuse claims against
residential care homes, where there was a 33% increase in
complaints, rising from 547 to 730.
In contrast, west Kent saw a small decrease from 267 claims to
258 last year.
When it came to the type of abuse, the largest number - 996 -
concerned
allegations of physical abuse, which covers hitting, slapping,
pushing, restraint and misuse of medication.
More than 850 concerned claims of neglect, which includes
failing to give medication, provide food and heating.
Cllr Graham Gibbens (Con), KCC cabinet member
for adult care, said well-documented scandals such as the one
involving maltreatment of vulnerable adults at Winterbourne View in
Bristol had raised awareness.
He said: "What it points to is that people are becoming more
aware of
safeguarding and a lot more understanding of their rights.
"I am satisfied that these cases are being properly reviewed" – Cllr Graham Gibbens
"I am satisfied that these cases are being properly reviewed. I
have not seen any evidence that gives me cause for concern that
matters are out of control."
Greater training and understanding was needed in the care
sector, he added.
"We have encouraged care homes and domiciliary care providers to
do much
more training."
More abuse claims were made in Thanet and Dover than anywhere
else in the county, with 588 complaints were upheld across the two
districts.
This was followed by Canterbury and Swale, where there were 494
complaints were upheld, with Ashford and Shepway seeing 223 claims
substantiated.
In west Kent, Maidstone and Malling, 213 complaints were upheld,
while in south west Kent there were 106.
The provision of care for the elderly is likely to be one of the
key challenges facing Kent, with forecasts that the numbers of
people over the age of 65 will increase by 25% between now and
2020.
08/01/13
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