Elderly face 'institutional ageism', says care minister Paul Burstow
Britain's care system for elderly people is blighted by “institutional ageism”, the care minister said last night.
By John Bingham, Social Affairs Editor
23 Feb 2012
Paul Burstow promised to introduce a national standard of training for care workers after a coalition of politicians, charities and unions warned that elderly people were too often being treated as “objects”.
Mr Burstow was speaking at the launch of a code of conduct for care workers and nurses which calls for patients to be treated with dignity and respect.
Politicians on both sides of the Commons, the Royal College of Nursing, the TUC, and charities including Age UK are among supporters of the Dignity Code drawn up by the National Pensioners’ Convention.
It calls on nurses and carers to obtain consent for treatments and it demands that elderly people are allowed to “speak for themselves” either directly or, in cases where this is no longer possible, through a friend or relation. It also requires carers to address older people formally rather than by their first name, unless they are invited to do otherwise. Supporters hope the new code will be written into their contracts.
Speaking at the launch in the Commons last night, Mr Burstow said the document would be a “starting point” for a legally enforceable code of conduct for the care sector.
SOURCE: The Telegraph, UK
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