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Alzheimer’s Society comment on the use of the Human Rights Act in private care homes

Published 19 February 2008

More than two thirds of people in care homes are living with dementia and thousands of them and their carers are left exposed by this scandalous legal loophole.

There should never be any compromise when it comes to treating people with fairness, dignity, equality and respect and there needs to be an urgent rethink on extending the Human Rights Act to protect all residents.

We hear every day about people with dementia being neglected in care homes, being refused a daily bath or forced to wear incontinence pads for 15 hours. If a person with dementia is forced to move from one care home to another it can pose serious risks to their health and wellbeing.

This two-tier approach to legally binding human rights, which depends on how and who runs care homes, cannot continue.

Neil Hunt
Chief Executive
Alzheimer's Society