Website of the Department of Health

£2 million joint project with comic relief to investigate prevalence of elder abuse on NHS wards and in care homes

Ivan Lewis, Minister for Care Services, today announced three new measures to strengthen the protection of vulnerable older people in the care system.

The plans will help to ensure that older people are treated with dignity and respect in all care settings. They include:

Considering how to amend the Health and Social Care Bill currently going through parliament to make care homes providing publicly-arranged accommodation directly subject to duties under the Human Rights Act, reversing the effect of a recent court decision.

Acting to ensure that people funding their own care will for the first time have the right to refer complaints to an independent adjudicator. Details will be confirmed later this year.

£2 million funding for a new joint research initiative between Comic Relief and the Department of Health investigating the dignity and safety of older people being cared for in institutional settings.

Health and Social Care Minister Ivan Lewis said: 'Everyone who has an elderly parent or grand parent will want to know we are doing everything in our power to protect vulnerable older people from ill treatment.'

• News story (opens new window)