Safeguarding the ‘Oldest Old’

Richard PowleyHead of SafeguardingAge UK

England’s changing demographic

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

0

2,000,000

4,000,000

6,000,000

8,000,000

10,000,000

12,000,000

14,000,000

8,028,000

11,559,300

986,800 1,882,400

65+ and 85+ population estimates and projections between 2005 and 2025, Eng-land

65+ pop85+ pop

Year

Num

ber o

f peo

ple

“Life is not over once you hit 85. In fact, most people over this age are rather independent, feel that their health is good, enjoy a good quality of life, and have more than a few years of life left”

(Understanding the Oldest Old - Age UK 2013).

• Why do old people always sit by me on the bus?! I'm peado bate I swear

• I hope I don't smell like old people when I'm old

• hate when old people smell of wee• Old people that win money should be

forced to hand it over• Eastbourne we are over run with old

people

• Old people remind me of cute little pugs• Find old people so cute• Old people are so nice and chatty, aww• These sick f***s who abuse old people

need to be shot!

HSCIC: 2012-13 Adult Safeguarding

18-64: 40%

65-74: 12%

75-84: 22%

85 and over 26%

Men over 85: Increased risk of physical and financial abuse

Women over 85: Increased risk of neglect (UK Study of Abuse and Neglect of Older People Prevalence Survey Report)

Physical abuse

• Physical abuse can be especially serious because older people’s bones are thinner and take longer to heal

• Even minor injuries can cause serious

and permanent damage

Hillcroft Nursing Home

Financial abuse & scams

Scams prevalence

• 70% of older people routinely targeted by rogue traders over the telephone

• 40% of older people in the UK with dementia regularly targeted by scam mail

• 62% approached by unscrupulous cold callers or doorstep sales people

Neglect

Domestic Abuse

Domestic Abuse

• Local Domestic Abuse policies should specifically include older people

• The needs of older people who experience domestic abuse are different

• Be aware of, and understand the new definition of domestic abuse and understand potential remedies such as Domestic Violence Protection Orders

Draft Care Bill

What can we do?

• Abandon the ‘deficit conception of ageing’ • Make sure dignity and respect for the

oldest old are part of any services • Identify what makes the difference

between services for the oldest old that effectively prevent abuse and those that fail to do this

What can we do?

• Consider Domestic Abuse.

• For many older people this will be the first contact they have had with social services. Be sensitive.

What can we do?

• Think about the positive outcomes that the draft Care Bill may have

• Support your local Age UK – they have great resources and access to great insight!

Gabriel Garcia Marquez

“It is not true that people stop pursuing dreams because they grow old, they grow old because they stop pursuing dreams”