£60k compensation for pensioner, 91, locked away from his cat – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 22nd, 2015 in care homes, compensation, costs, detention, elderly, mental health, news, social services by sally

‘Judge says it is ‘hard to imagine a more depressing and inexcusable’ case than that of the WWII veteran taken from his home against his wishes by Essex council.’

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Daily Telegraph, 21st January 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

General damages are not reduced because of age: the law set out with clarity – Zenith PI Blog

Posted January 19th, 2015 in damages, elderly, medical treatment, negligence, news, personal injuries by sally

‘There are many reasons why personal injury litigators should read the decision of Judge Curran QC (sitting as a judge of the High Court) in Miller -v- Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust [2014] EWHC 3772 (QB). One of the reasons is the detailed analysis of the argument that damages for pain and suffering should automatically be reduced because of a claimant’s age. As the judgment shows age can be an aggravating factor, not a matter that leads to a reduction in the award.’

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Zenith PI Blog, 17th January 2015

Source: www.zenithpi.wordpress.com

The unkindest cut: Criminal record for elderly neighbours who cut back man’s clematis – The Independent

Posted January 15th, 2015 in conditional discharge, costs, criminal damage, elderly, news by sally

‘Two pensioners in their 80s have been convicted of criminal damage after deliberately cutting back their neighbour’s clematis with secateurs against her wishes.’

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The Independent, 14th January 2015

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Stigma of dementia leading to rise in will disputes – Legal Futures

Posted December 17th, 2014 in elderly, mental health, news, solicitors, wills by sally

‘Expert will dispute lawyers have revealed that people hiding their dementia due to the stigma of mental illness is leading to a rise in the number of wills being disputed by friends and families and say that vulnerable people need more support to avoid being taken advantage of.’

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Legal Futures, 16th December 2014

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Care worker Lorenzo Bacus could have more victims, say police – BBC News

Posted November 25th, 2014 in care workers, elderly, news, sentencing, sexual offences, victims by sally

‘A care worker who has been jailed for abusing a male resident at a home could have struck before, say police.’

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BBC News, 25th November 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council v KW and others – WLR Daily

Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council v KW and others: [2014] EWCOP 45; [2014] WLR (D) 493

‘Article 5 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms was not engaged where a person, often elderly, who was both physically and mentally disabled to a severe extent, was being looked after in her own home and where the arrangements had been made and paid for by a local authority rather than by the person’s own, or family, funds.’

WLR Daily, 18th November 2014

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Covert care camera guidance approved by Care Quality Commission – BBC News

‘Guidance for people who install hidden cameras to check on standards of their own or a relative’s care has been approved by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).’

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BBC News, 19th November 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Prisons struggling with old, sick and disabled people, says charity – The Independent

Posted October 28th, 2014 in disabled persons, elderly, news, prisons, reports by sally

‘Prisons are struggling to cope with the growing numbers of old, sick and disabled people behind bars, according to a prison charity.’

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The Independent, 28th October 2014

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Cumbrian care workers jailed after abuse at Penrith home – BBC News

‘Three care workers have been jailed for abusing dementia patients at a Cumbria home.’

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BBC News, 24th October 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Patchy dementia care puts patients at risk of unnecessary suffering, says CQC – The Guardian

Posted October 13th, 2014 in care homes, elderly, health, hospitals, mental health, news, quality assurance, standards by sally

‘Nine out of 10 care homes and hospitals in England have aspects of care for people with dementia that are variable or poor, making those with the condition likely to receive substandard treatment at some point, according to an important review by the NHS regulator.’

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The Guardian, 13th October 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

European Convention on Human Rights: What has it ever done for us? – The Independent

‘As the Tories attempt to dilute the treaty’s authority in the UK, James Cusick takes a look at the difference it has made.’

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The Independent, 3rd October 2014

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Council defeats claim brought on behalf of 101 year old over care home closure – Local Government Lawyer

Posted October 1st, 2014 in care homes, elderly, equality, judicial review, local government, news by sally

‘A city council has successfully defended a High Court challenge brought on behalf of a 101-year-old resident over its decision to close her care home.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 30th Spetember 2014

Source:  www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

DCLG opens technical consultation on house building standards – OUT- LAW.com

‘The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) opened a consultation last week on a series of proposed changes to the existing system of housing standards, which seek to reduce and simplify the rules house builders must comply with.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 15th September 2014

Source: www.out-law.com

Gloria Foster inquest: ‘Neglect contributed to death’ – BBC News

Posted September 10th, 2014 in care workers, elderly, hospitals, inquests, medical treatment, medicines, news by sally

‘Neglect contributed to the death of an elderly woman found dying at home nine days after her care agency was shut in a police raid, a coroner has concluded.’

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BBC News, 10th September 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

A practical approach to advising vulnerable clients – The Future of Law

‘A vulnerable person is anyone aged 18 and over who needs assistance because of mental or other disability, age or illness, is unable to take care of him or herself and is unable to protect themselves against significant harm or exploitation.’

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The Future of Law, 5th September 2014

Source: www.blogs.lexisnexis.co.uk

Teenager who raped elderly woman in her home is jailed for 16 years – The Guardian

Posted August 21st, 2014 in elderly, news, rape, sentencing by sally

‘A teenager who raped a woman in her 90s has been jailed for 16 years.’

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The Guardian, 20th August 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Magistrate sings in protest at being forced to retire – Daily Telegraph

Posted August 11th, 2014 in age discrimination, elderly, magistrates, news, retirement by sally

‘Karen Henshaw stood up in court and broke into song about being forced to step down from her duties at the age of 70.’

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Daily Telegraph, 8th August 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

No appeal over Rolf Harris sex offences sentence – BBC News

‘Rolf Harris’s sex offences sentence will not be referred to the Court of Appeal, despite 150 complaints over its “leniency”, the attorney general’s office has said.’

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BBC News, 30th July 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Number of prisoners over 60 in England and Wales doubles in 10 years – The Guardian

Posted July 24th, 2014 in elderly, news, prisons, statistics by sally

‘The number of prisoners over the age of 60 in jail in England and Wales has nearly doubled over the past decade to 3,577, according to the latest Ministry of Justice figures.’

Full story

The Guardian, 23rd July 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Watchdog gets new powers to close failing care homes – Daily Telegraph

Posted July 16th, 2014 in care homes, elderly, news, ombudsmen, standards by sally

‘Failing care homes will be put on “special measures” and closed down if they fail to improve, under new powers given to watchdogs in the wake of a series of scandals.’

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Daily Telegraph, 16th July 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk