British health minister launches elder abuse awareness campaign
A British health minister hasadmitted that elderly people are effectively being starved to deathwithin numerous care facilities and hospitals. Health Minister Ivan Lewis says many British care officials abusetheir elderly charges by providing minimal amounts of food,representing the overall lack of appropriate care within the nation’shealth care system, the Daily Mail said Monday. Lewis has decided to launch a nationwide campaign to improve food quality for seniors. “We wouldn’t put
up with this happening to our children, so why should we find it acceptable for our older people?” Lewis said. A December 2005 report supports Lewis’ claim, citing that more than2,000 of Britain’s care facilities that do not provide appropriatenutrition care. The Mail said the government’s “Dignity for Older People” campaignwould focus on assigning area officials to promote improved healthcareand would also concentrate on overall elder nutrition.