After suffering a stroke she was left unable to walk but mentally she was still sharp. She chose to move into a care home near her daughter and sister, and joined in all the activities with enthusiasm.

Within months, however, she became reclusive and refused to go to bed at night. Her GP prescribed a sedative but it didn’t seem to help.

Some of the staff thought she was being recalcitrant. Finally, Gwen told her sister Helen that one of the male care workers had touched her inappropriately. She didn’t want to go to bed because that is when the abuse took place. Incredibly distressed, she insisted that she didn’t want her daughter to know.

“There are some things you just don’t discuss with your children,” she said.

Unfortunately, the police interviewed Gwen in front of her daughter and she felt unable to talk about what had happened. The investigation was dropped.

The home took disciplinary action but the worker resigned before his hearing.

Gwen is one of hundreds of people in Scotland over the age of 60 who have suffered some form of abuse, but the evidence to date has tended to be anecdotal and the issue often remains hidden.

However, figures obtained by The Herald suggest it is a growing problem and one that is unlikely to go away -- with dramatic rises in the elderly population predicted in the foreseeable future.

It was generally accepted that abuse took place, but the extent was unknown and unquantified. Statistics from the Care Commission indicate there has been a 54% increase in complaints about neglect and abuse in care homes since 2004.

There has also been a 563% increase in complaints relating to neglect and abuse made against care at home services, a minority of which may relate to younger adults.

In 2007 research commissioned by the charity Action on ElderAbuse, found that more than one third of a million people in the UK over the age of 66, which amounts to 4% of that population, have experienced some sort of abuse, ranging from financial fraud to physical assault.

The survey funded by Comic Relief and the UK Department of Health excluded those living in care homes and people with dementia. It found that in Scotland, the problem is particularly acute. The percentage of those over 66 who have been victimised is higher than the UK average and second only to Wales.

While 3.9% of elderly people in England and 3% in Northern Ireland reported being victims, in Scotland it was 4.3%. In Wales it was as high as 6%.

Overall, 2.1% of men and 5.4% of women were victims. However, in Scotland, men were more likely to be abused than women. In England the percentage of women who experienced some form of abuse was 5.6% compared with 1.6% for men. In Scotland 3.6% of women reported being victims against 5.2% of men.

Among the findings was the fact that an estimated 342,000 people in the UK have experienced some form of abuse. About 42,000 were in Scotland.

As the population ages, the problem is expected to get worse unless there is a dramatic shift in attitudes and approach.

Daniel Blake, head of policy for Action Against Elder Abuse, said it receives around 18,000 calls a year from those who have suffered some form of abuse. He added: “The figures that we see are merely the tip of the iceberg. Financial abuse in particular is growing in prevalence.

“It’s a myth to assume that the vast majority of abuse goes on in care homes. The majority of abuse goes on in people’s own homes. It is the last taboo in abuse that society is only gradually coming to terms with having faced up to domestic abuse and child abuse. Domestic violence does not magically end once people reach the age of 65. As a society we have struggled to accept that.

“We recognise children are groomed and have to realise the same applies to older people -- professionals and relatives spend time gaining their trust and partly as a result older people may not realise they have been a victim.

“We are also concerned about the very low level of prosecutions and convictions against such people. With the growing population there is clearly the potential for this problem to increase and unless we get this right and change attitudes and approaches, there will be a lot more people put at risk.”

Scotland has now put in place new legislation to try to curb the trend, but experts say attitude change and greater awareness raising of the problem is still required.

Under the Adult Support and Protection Act 2007, introduced 12 months ago, local authorities have far greater powers to help identify “adults at risk”, provide support to them when they need it, and to provide the means to protect them from harm. The legislation, which is still bedding in, gives local authorities the power to intervene and even issue “banning orders” if they have serious concerns about abuse.

There have been prosecutions but charities believe many more cases go unreported.Charities say older people need to be given more support when they do come forward and that general societal attitudes towards older people need to change.

“Why do we refer to the population projections as a demographic timebomb? Asked Mr Blake.

“We need to recognise older people as individuals in their own right who still have a great deal to offer.”

The issue of elder abuse raises incredibly uncomfortable questions, not just about how we allow the older generation to be treated - including our own parents and grandparents - but how ultimately we wish to be treated ourselves.

Names have been changed to protect identities.

 

Scottish Helpline for Older People: 0845 1259732

 

 

Action Against Elder Abuse UK freephone number: 0808 808 8141

 

 

Care Commission can be contacted on: 08456030890 or www.carecommission.com

 

 

 

Highlighting the isolation and dangers faced by those in care

 

Joseph Sinja, 32, a Kenyan who had been allowed into the country to study at a Bible college, was jailed for six years and eight months for sexually assaulting a 76-year-old woman in the care home where he was working.

Sinja had been put in care of elderly people at the home run by Edinburgh City Council after training that consisted of “four days of following someone round”.

The case in August prompted a call for an inquiry.

Often the sensitivities of the problem and the isolation and vulnerability of those involved means they are understandably reticent about reporting problems.

A report published in May by the Care Commission and Mental Welfare Commission, revealed that there are some 67,000 people in Scotland have dementia and about 40% of them are in care homes or hospitals.

It states: “The nature of the illness means they need a lot of care and support and they are more at risk of having their rights overlooked.

“Where others may be more involved in their care, be able to express their wishes, ask others for help, or exercise their right to make a complaint, people with dementia have often lost many or all of these abilities.

“Around 70% of people living in the care homes we visited had varying degrees and types of dementia.

“Around half of all people never went out of the care home and there was very little planned activity outside the care home.

“Activity was not tailored to individual interests and activity co-ordinators were not always trained or supervised in their role.”