Category: Radio 2
Date: 05.06.2006
Printable version
91Èȱ¬ Radio 2 has discovered a shocking prevalence of elder abuse and neglect in
Britain after commissioning a GfK NOP poll for its latest Life2Live initiative -
Respect Your Elders: Radio 2's Campaign Against Elder Abuse.
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One in four of the adults surveyed knew an elderly person who had suffered neglect or
mistreatment and, out of these respondents, one in ten cited examples of physical
abuse.
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The mistreatment highlighted by the poll also included poor personal care
and cases of elderly people being left unfed, humiliated or shown a lack of
respect.
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Over half of all the adults polled believed that there was a great deal of
neglect and mistreatment of the elderly in Britain and amongst females the
percentage rose to 60 per cent.
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According to those polled, the majority of neglect and
mistreatment occurred in care homes (53%) and hospitals (48%), the very places
charged by society to care for people in need.
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Jeremy Vine launches Radio 2's campaign against elder abuse today (Monday 5 June).
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He says: "This poll is really shocking. Our elders deserve love and care but many, too
many, are being hurt or neglected behind closed doors - just where we don't see
what's happening.
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"I hope Respect Your Elders will raise awareness and tell us
more about what's going on.
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"That way we can help elderly people who currently
feel totally alone with their pain and fear."
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Jeremy will discuss the serious implications of the poll with the 91Èȱ¬'s 91Èȱ¬
Editor, Mark Easton; the Minister for Care Services, Ivan Lewis MP; and the actor
Tony Robinson whose parents both suffered from dementia.
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Tony says: "Every
person needs to feel the respect and security which the rest of us take for
granted. It's up to us to ensure they receive it."
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Jeremy will also invite listeners to share their own experiences of elder abuse
during his show (noon-2.00pm).
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Further information will be available on bbc.co.uk/radio2, where the Life2Live section contains
information about elder abuse, and the issues covered by previous campaigns, as
well as offering advice on where to find support.
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Listeners can also call the
Radio 2 helpline, 0800 022 022.
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In addition Wake Up To Wogan's (7.30-9.30am) Pause For Thought slot on Wednesday
7 June will focus on what it means to respect our elders.
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And Aled Jones will
talk to the veteran campaigner Erin Pizzey in Good Morning Sunday (11 June,
7.00-9.00am).
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Radio 2's campaign throws the spotlight on the important issue of elder abuse in
the lead up to World Elder Abuse Day on Thursday 15 June.
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Bridget Penhale,
Senior Lecturer in Gerontology at the University of Sheffield, and a lead expert
in the study of elder abuse, believes the survey demonstrates that this issue
demands our attention as a society.
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She says: "The Radio 2 survey is important because
surveys of the views of the general public have been lacking in this area until
now.
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"We are at the point now where elder abuse is publicly recognised as a serious
problem for older people.
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"The major challenge ahead is to develop appropriate
responses to abuse when it occurs.
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"In addition, we need to have preventive
measures and strategies in place to enable our older people to live (their)
lives free from abuse, neglect and exploitation."
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Notes to Editors
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The GFK NOP poll of 1,000 adults (aged 16+) was carried out by telephone between
12 and 14 May 2006.
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Life2Live is the umbrella name for the social action campaigns broadcast across
the schedule on Radio 2.
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Life2Live started out with a look at mental health
and making Britain a happier place, and has gone on to cover issues including
bullying at work, male impotence, sexuality and allergies.
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AG
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