Editorial
| Date | 01 March 2007 |
| Published date | 01 March 2007 |
| Pages | 2-3 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/14668203200700001 |
| Author | Donna Doherty |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Sociology |
This issue of The Journal of Adult Protection
focuses on legislation and the protection of
older adults. Recent media attention around
older adult abuse in care homes has raised the
issue of abuse in the public domain once more
(http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/panor
ama/6332327.stm). However, despite
legislation that exists to protect older adults,
they remain vulnerable. Potentially, the Mental
Capacity Act (DoH, 2005) (http:// www.dh.gov.
uk/assetRoot/04/10/85/96/04108596.pdf)
could see the political tide turning. Producing
ever morelegislation and conducting ever
more reviews and inquiries is not the answer.
Looking at the factors that cause abuse and
finding solutions to address them is essential.
Current policies and legislation that exist are
continuing to fail those they are designed to
protect. Recent enquiries such as the Cornwall
Inquiry (http://www.healthcare commission.
org.uk/_db/_documents/cornwall_investigatio
n_report.pdf) highlight the need to actually
heed the findings of reports and ensure action
is taken. The papers in this edition highlight
the need to strengthen already existing
legislation and work collaboratively for the
mutual benefit of older adults, carers and
service providers.
This issue takes as its starting point Jill
Manthorpe’spaper reporting the findings of
inspections and consultations undertaken as
partof the evaluation of the National Service
Framework for Older People. The paper and
its findings emphasise the success of
collaboration and joint interagency inspection.
It also considered mechanisms for adult
protection, and importantly sought the views
of older adults and carers to allow for
triangulation of all the data obtained. The
2©Pavilion Journals (Brighton) Limited The Journal of Adult Protection Volume 9 Issue 1 • March 2007
Editorial
paper highlights the need to obtain the views
of those who could be considered socially
excluded. A lack of training has frequently
been highlighted as a factor that influences the
likelihood of abuse occurring. Manthorpe’s
work identified that in some organisations
training existed but wasn’t effectively utilised
or taken up by staff.
Many vocal and more able older adults
attended the listening events used as part of
the study. Using the questionnaire to include
the most vulnerable helped to reduce bias
effectively.The listening events identified
neglect and mistreatment echoed in other
arenas such as collaborative work between Age
Concernand the RCN, which began as a result
of complaints of neglect and abuse by older
adults and their carers. Although adult
protection procedures exist, the paper
identifies that the processes and attitudes in
adult protection arenot necessarily those
reflected in older adult cases.
The paper highlights the fact that with
greater awareness of complaints procedures,
may come an increase in actual complaints
that would necessitate an improvement in
service provision.
The next paper examines the issues of
vulnerable older adults in police custody. Ian
Cummins suggests that the legislation
available to protect older adults who may have
mental health issues and end up in police
custody potentially causes conflict between the
responsibilities of the criminal justice system
and the need to provide health care to
vulnerable older adults who may enter the
criminal justice system. The pilot study
demonstrated that deinstitutionalisation of
both mental health careand learning disability
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