[Ramrod]

The problem is that care work is carried out by largely untrained staff who are paid very little. They are therefore very often not the brightest of people. The work is very boring and repetitive and some of the old people can be very slow,cantankerous and often abusive. When you put all these factors together you can see why abuse happens. The case mentioned is rather extreme but not uncommon. What is even more worrying is the sheer scale of lesser abuse that goes on routinely behind the doors of nursing homes. OAP's are often drugged to make them more compliant and their wishes are very often not carried out. People who have lived full and productive lives are suddenly treated like naughty children. Their relatives don't visit and they are left to cope as best they can in an atmosphere of indifference and occasional hostility. If any of you have relatives in homes, go and visit often and take an interest in how they are treated, if they are happy etc. If the staff know that someone is looking out for them they are treated better. (ditto for stays in hospital) This isn't the case in all homes but I have worked in a fair few that are 'borderline' and my mother has worked in some that are like that.
Getting old is a very scary proposition in this country.