George's Story

George's Story

18th June 2021

2 min read

When Claire* and her family discovered horrific pressure sores on her grandfather George’s* back that no-one at his care home could adequately explain, they decided to install a secret camera to see what was going on.

The footage it captured shocked them to the core. In the video, George can be heard screaming ‘help’ as he is manhandled by care staff who tell him to ‘shut up’, call him an ‘idiot’ and mock him.

“We just couldn’t believe what we were watching,” said Claire. “You’d be shocked to see an animal treated like that, let alone your own grandfather, in a place where he was supposed to be safe and cared for.”

George had been forced to move into a care home, separated from his wife of 60 years, after suffering several strokes and a fall that left him needing near-constant care. After uncovering the incident of abuse, Claire and her family quickly moved George out of the home. Sadly, George passed away three weeks later after developing sepsis in hospital.

The management at the care home in question have consistently denied any wrongdoing and a police investigation did not find evidence of criminality, despite the video footage.

*Details changed at the victim’s request

If you or anyone you know is suffering from abuse contact our 247 helpline

"Older victims of abuse were locked in and left behind". Hourglass feedback to module 10 (impact on society) of the COVID-19 inquiry roundtable.  

Human ageing is imbedded within social factors, social relationships, and social constructs, and linked to ideas around the wider community and the self; until death happens - everyone grows older and old, but our notions around ageing are steeped in assumptions and stereotypes. 

Overarchingly, Hourglass has a neutral view on the proposed Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill. We understand and support the need for older people to be able to make choices regarding their own lives and deaths and have autonomy over decision making in this sphere and any others.

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Economic abuse is a crime, and older people are key victims and victim-survivors of such abuse. But this abuse and the costs to the victim, society and the economy are hidden and all too often ignored.

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The Hourglass Manifesto outlines the overarching measures which Hourglass believes the governments should adopt in order to create a Safer Ageing Society by 2050.

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An analysis of Hourglass and Hodge Bank's economic abuse survey.

This research was inspired by a lady called Valerie Kneale. Valerie passed away in Blackpool Hospital in November 2018, initially thought to be due to a stroke. However, a post-mortem examination found Valerie had in fact died from internal haemorrhaging due to severe vaginal injuries.

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Physical abuse is any intentional act or behaviour causing injury, trauma or other physical suffering or bodily harm. This includes instances of fabricated or induced illness or causing an older person to become unwell.

Sexual abuse involves any non-consensual sexual act or activity perpetrated against an older person. Such acts can include rape or attempted rape, sexual assault, involving an older person in making or viewing sexual imagery against their wishes, indecent exposure, inappropriate sexual harassment, sexual teasing, innuendo, or non-consensual masturbation.  

Neglect occurs when a person deliberately withholds, or fails to provide, suitable and adequate care and support needed by an older person. It may be through a lack of knowledge or awareness, or through a deliberate decision not to act when they know the older person in their care needs help. Neglect can negatively impact the health and well-being of an older person.

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Domestic abuse, or domestic violence, is any incident of controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are or have been intimate partners or family members, regardless of their gender or sexuality.

Hourglass Safer Ageing Index is a groundbreaking research project to assess the current state of ageing, examine policy and identify barriers to achieving safer ageing for all older people in Greater London.

Hourglass Cymru's Safer Ageing Index is a groundbreaking research project to assess the current state of ageing, examine policy and identify barriers to achieving safer ageing for all older people in Wales.

Hourglass Northern Ireland's Safer Ageing Index is a groundbreaking research project to assess the current state of ageing, examine policy and identify barriers to achieving safer ageing for all older people in Northern Ireland.

The Safer Ageing Index for England, which suggests significant issues in the South West and North of England, underlines that addressing the needs and challenges faced by the growing population of older adults is crucial in creating a Safer Ageing Society. This includes providing adequate housing options, healthcare services, social support, and combating social isolation to ensure a better quality of life for older people across England.

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Every year, more than a million older people are physically, emotionally, financially or sexually abused in the UK. This is a truly damning indictment of how our society views and values older people.

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