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News items on 'Elderly'
Big variation in life expectancy
(BBC 21/10/2009)
Babies born in Scotland have the average lowest life expectancy in the UK, latest figures show. The Office for National Statistics figures for 2006-08 show males in Scotland can expect to live to 75 years, and females to 79.9 years. In contrast, males in the south-east of England have the highest life expectancy, at 79.2 years, with females in the South West top at 83.1 years. Life expectancy has improved in all areas between 1991-93 and 2006-08.
Science to 'stop age clock at 50'
(BBC 20/10/2009)
Centenarians with the bodies of 50-year-olds will one day be a realistic possibility, say scientists. Half of babies now born in the UK will reach 100, thanks to higher living standards, but our bodies are wearing out at the same rate. To achieve "50 active years after 50", experts at Leeds University are spending £50m over five years looking at innovative solutions. They plan to provide own-grown tissues and durable implants. New hips, knees and heart valves are the starting points.
MSPs to launch investigation into elderly care standards
(The Scotsman 04/05/2009)
MSPs are to investigate standards in elderly care provision, it was confirmed yesterday. Holyrood's local government committee is to question bosses at South Lanarkshire Council and the Care Commission over the use of controversial "reverse e-auctions" to procure contractors. It comes after a recent television documentary raised concerns over care. Convener Duncan McNeil said the findings will form the basis of a recommendation to the Scottish Government.
Telecare delivers savings in Scotland
(eHealthInsider 23/04/2009)
Telecare in Scotland (allowing monitoring of people at home) has delivered savings of more than £11m and is improving health and social care delivery and quality of life for users, according to an evaluation report. The report on Scotland's Telecare Development Programme concludes that it has delivered savings of £11.15m in 2007-08, based on 7,902 people receiving telecare equipment.
Families 'misled' over care fees
(BBC 18/04/2009)
Age Concern and Help the Aged says some people struggling to sell a home to pay fees are not being offered council no-interest schemes they are entitled to. About 60,000 people a year must sell their home to fund care, but sales are taking longer in the current recession. The Local Government Association says councils in England that cannot afford the schemes do not have to offer them.
The horrible bingo of growing old
(Telegraph 11/04/2009)
The findings of the recent Panorama investigation into services provided for the elderly and infirm in their own homes, made public last week, revealed just how far from ordinary decency such "care" has travelled. In one instance, Care UK, which has 48 contracts with local authorities, abandoned Janet Finn, 89, on her own for 24 hours after a "training error": she was left with no food, water, medication, or chance to visit the lavatory.
Pensioners' lives 'getting worse'
(BBC 07/04/2009)
A quarter of UK pensioners feel their lives are getting worse, a report by the merged charity Age Concern and Help the Aged has suggested. Of 1,000 people aged 65 and over questioned, 24% said their quality of life had deteriorated in the past year. The charity says that equates to more than two million people across the UK.
Uphill battle
(BBC 27/01/2009)
Research published by the charity Help The Aged finds that many geriatricians think the NHS is institutionally ageist. The doctors, all members of the British Geriatrics Society, also said they would have concerns about how the NHS would treat them in old age. Here three women recount their experiences with the health service.
Older people 'fare badly in NHS care'
(BBC 27/01/2009)
Doctors specialising in the care of older people say the NHS is institutionally ageist. A British Geriatric Society survey said more than half of the doctors themselves would be worried about how the NHS would treat them in old age. The government says age discrimination legislation will be part of the forthcoming Equality Bill.
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