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UK: Starving on a spoonful of mash a day
Daily Telegraph (UK) ^ | 1/23/07 | Sarah Womack

Posted on 01/22/2007 7:43:26 PM PST by kiriath_jearim

The Government has admitted it is allowing elderly people to battle against starvation in care homes and hospitals, years after being alerted to the scandal by charities.

Ivan Lewis, the health minister, conceded that some elderly people were given a single scoop of mashed potato or served meals with plastic cutlery "best suited to picnics".

His remarks, made to a local Birmingham newspaper, went on to admit that a single scoop of mashed potato "masquerades as lunch every day".

"Plastic cutlery has its place at a summer picnic but not for everyday use. Yet some older people are still being served their dinners with plastic cutlery, even though they have suffered a paralysing stroke which makes it pretty impossible for them to eat properly.

"Some have a tray placed on the end of the bed, tantalising with hot food. It may be just an inch out of reach but it might as well be a mile. To a bed-ridden pensioner, it must seem like torture.

"We wouldn't put up with this happening to our children, so why should we find it acceptable for our older people."

The remarks mirror findings by Age Concern in its report Hungry to be Heard in which it warned that more than 750,000 pensioners could be left to go hungry in hospitals this year.

Its research uncovered how one in four hospital patients or visitors in 2005 and 2006 knew someone who had suffered an unhealthy experience with meals and vital nutrition.

Some patients could not feed themselves as their food had been placed out of reach; others were simply too weak. In some cases they were unable to eat because of their condition.

Some families were forced to turn up at hospitals to feed their sick relatives and ensure they did not starve.

Piano teacher, Andrew Martyn, whose name has been changed to protect his identity, told The Daily Telegraph that his family went to hospital twice a day to feed his elderly father because there were not enough members of staff to do it.

His mother explained: "A doctor said my husband didn't have long to live. Maybe a week. Staff didn't have time to feed him because he took a long time to feed. We were told that if he gets fed, he could live a little bit longer.

"So my son and daughter went to the hospital twice a day to feed him."

Charities said Mr Lewis's remarks, which come ahead of a Government campaign this week to improve pensioners' quality of food in care, were a recognition of the appalling way thousands of older people were being treated.

But the latest initiative comes after a long list of campaigns which have achieved little. Last year, for example, ministers said a dignity nurse would be appointed in every health service hospital to ensure that elderly patients are respected.

The treatment of over-65s has been an embarrassing issue for the Government, not least as it pledged better care for older patients in its election manifestos.

Yesterday, a spokesman for Help the Aged, said: "The Government has known about malnutrition for years, and I hope it now gets proper attention and investment."

Gordon Lishman, the director-general of Age Concern, added: "At this time of year most of us are worried about eating too much, but the reality for many older patients is that they are at risk of malnutrition while they are in hospital.

"The prevalence of malnutrition in older patients is a disgrace."

The toll of malnutrition on health costs in the UK is more than £7 billion a year. Malnourished patients have to stay in hospital for longer because they take more time to recover and are three times more likely to develop complications during surgery.

About 24,000 copies of Age Concern's leaflet, "Is an older person you care for malnourished?" have been requested by troubled relatives and older people in two weeks.

The leaflet gives advice on recognising malnutrition, and offers help to older people about to enter hospital.

•For a copy, go to www.ageconcern.org.uk or call 020 8679 1609.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Foreign Affairs; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: euphoria; gloriesofcommunism; socializedmedicine; starvation; universalhealthcare
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1 posted on 01/22/2007 7:43:27 PM PST by kiriath_jearim
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To: kiriath_jearim

And the dems want the government to take care of us in our old age? Sheesh.


2 posted on 01/22/2007 7:45:05 PM PST by gotribe (There's still time to begin a war in Iraq.)
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To: gotribe

And excellent model for "Hillary Care"....socialized medicine and care --- always a total disaster.


3 posted on 01/22/2007 7:46:47 PM PST by EagleUSA
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To: gotribe

Wonderful way to treat the people who fought the wars and built the country. Meanwhile, Radical Muzzies advocating its destruction live off the govenment teat and get a bonus for every new rat they breed.


4 posted on 01/22/2007 7:52:51 PM PST by Vigilanteman (Are there any men left in Washington? Or are there only cowards? Ahmad Shah Massoud)
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To: kiriath_jearim

BUMP!


5 posted on 01/22/2007 7:53:55 PM PST by PGalt
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To: kiriath_jearim

i don't think the plastic cutlery is so bad, but mashed potato for lunch sure doesn't sound right


6 posted on 01/22/2007 7:56:59 PM PST by Mount Athos
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To: kiriath_jearim
Socialism/Marxism/Communism ALWAYS LEADS TO STARVATION AND UNTOLD SUFFERING BY THE MILLIONS!!!

Yes, this is EXACTLY what is coming to America should the Socialists/Marxists take full control.

Dear God, give our countrymen and women the wisdom and strength to SEE what is coming and to work sacrifically to turn us back from the abyss.

7 posted on 01/22/2007 7:59:07 PM PST by Freedom'sWorthIt
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To: kiriath_jearim
I've seen some pretty skimpy meals in nursing homes but this kind of stuff is simply abuse. One call to the Ombudsman in Ohio and a state investigator would be all over these people like white on rice. Probably the same in most States.
8 posted on 01/22/2007 8:05:32 PM PST by hinckley buzzard
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To: kiriath_jearim

" some older people are still being served their dinners with plastic cutlery"

The horror...


9 posted on 01/22/2007 8:05:38 PM PST by gcruse (http://garycruse.blogspot.com/)
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To: Mount Athos
i don't think the plastic cutlery is so bad...

Totally useless to people with severe arthritis. They couldn't hold the thin slender handles much less manipulate them.

10 posted on 01/22/2007 8:07:19 PM PST by hinckley buzzard
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To: Freedom'sWorthIt

"this is EXACTLY what is coming to America"

We have to do everything possible to prevent these liberals from destroying our health care system. If we do not defend our freedom, we will lose it.

Instead of starving the old, people like Hillary will lead us to a system where the old are directly killed off to save costs and prevent "suffering." If the government pays, they have the power to kill when we are old and helpless.


11 posted on 01/22/2007 8:11:55 PM PST by garjog (Used to be liberals were just people to disagree with. Now they are a threat to our existence.)
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To: gotribe

As a descendent of folks that have a heritage of longevity and dementia (Alzheimer’s?), I’m so looking forward to my days in the local “old folks home”. Gee, starvation sounds like such a wonderful way to go.


12 posted on 01/22/2007 8:16:11 PM PST by doc1019
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To: hinckley buzzard

"Totally useless to people with severe arthritis. They couldn't hold the thin slender handles much less manipulate them."

Actually it would be easier for some. Metal silverware is heavy and harder to use.


13 posted on 01/22/2007 8:21:54 PM PST by swmobuffalo (The only good terrorist is a dead terrorist.)
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To: doc1019; garjog

Yes, exactly right. We beat back Hillarycare once. Just think, Garjog, we might just face euthanasia by injection instead of starvation in our elder years......otherwise.


14 posted on 01/22/2007 8:30:43 PM PST by Freedom'sWorthIt
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To: kiriath_jearim

A "Rest Home" is not where you want to end your days.


15 posted on 01/22/2007 8:31:05 PM PST by PeteB570 (Guns, what real men want for Christmas)
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To: Vigilanteman

Plus the brainless hippies who help them.


16 posted on 01/22/2007 8:54:38 PM PST by Niuhuru
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To: Freedom'sWorthIt
Yes, this is EXACTLY what is coming to America

It's already here. Years ago I saw an expose about Veteran's hospitals. They had a guy in bed who looked like he was at death's door. After a camera was placed in his room, the investigators found out that the staff wasn't feeding the man, just leaving the food on a tray. I forget the gentleman's problems, but apparently he couldn't feed himself and no one noticed.

His family was shown the tape and they came in to make sure he was fed. Another tape showed him looking quite well and healthy. Amazing what being fed on a regular basis will do for you, huh?

It still brings tears to my eyes thinking about a veteran in a VA Hospital being treated this way.

17 posted on 01/22/2007 9:12:01 PM PST by radiohead (They call me DOCTOR radiohead.)
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To: radiohead

A similar thing happened to both my Great-Aunt and my Mother in private nursing homes. It is not just in places with National Health, or government health care.

The personal care services, like spoon feeding those who can't feed themselves, or even ensuring that food and drink are placed within reach, are usually left to the least trained, poorest paid staff. We found that if we wanted Mom to get personal care, we had to be there ourselves.

VietVet


18 posted on 01/22/2007 10:23:00 PM PST by VietVet (I am old enough to know who I am and what I believe, and I 'm not inclined to apologize for any of)
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To: 8mmMauser

Euphoria ping.


19 posted on 01/23/2007 12:44:36 AM PST by TheSarce ("America is NOT what's wrong with this world." --Donald Rumsfeld)
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To: VietVet

I've heard of the same thing in a Kansas nursing home.


20 posted on 01/23/2007 3:59:50 AM PST by From many - one.
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