Bethany Tulloch
3214
30th January 2017
Unit 21; Caring for older people
D1; Evaluate the effectiveness of legislation relevant to health and care workers when
supporting the wellbeing of older people
Introduction
Their is many different types of laws and policies in place to protect the elderly from harm
and support their wellbeing. Some examples of a legislation by the government would be the
Equality Act, Care Standards Act and the Human Rights Act. These are laws that outline and
structure policies and frameworks that help protect the elderly and support their wellbeing.
There are around 60 million people in the UK. It is the most densely populated country in
Europe and has the world’s fourth largest economy. The UK, like other advanced industrial
societies, has a falling birth rate and increasing numbers of older people. The ratio of
taxpayers to pensioners is falling while the length of time during which people collect
pensions is increasing. When old age pensions were introduced in the early 20th century few
people survived long enough to collect them. Now people survive 25 to 30 years after
retirement. The number of people surviving into extreme old age has grown dramatically but
the number of NHS beds has fallen. However the elderly still need and are entitled to the
same standard of care that a person at any other age would be entitled to.
Care standards act
The Care Standards Act 2000 came into effect in April 2002, replacing the Residential
Homes Act 1984 and the Residential Homes Amendment Act 1991. The Act set up a new
system of national minimum standards for services such as private and voluntary sector
residential and nursing homes and, for the first time, extended the registration requirement to
local authority care homes. The Act also covers regulation of personal domiciliary services,
e.g. helping someone wash or dress, and includes nursing agencies. To achieve its aims, the
Act set up the Commission for Social Care Inspection whose primary aim is to promote
improvements in care via its triple functions of inspection, regulation and review of all social
care services. It provides a comprehensive overview of social care in England and works at a
local level, at a national level, and across all sectors.
The care standards act, is very good at protect the elderly as it sets a structure on what the
standards for care and what is acceptable in a health and care setting and what isn't
acceptable. It also shows that the breaking this law will be punished by law and can lead a
fine or imprisonment. This is a deterrent to anybody who does want to not follow the laws
put in place, and benefits and promotes the wellbeing of the elderly
1
3214
30th January 2017
Unit 21; Caring for older people
D1; Evaluate the effectiveness of legislation relevant to health and care workers when
supporting the wellbeing of older people
Introduction
Their is many different types of laws and policies in place to protect the elderly from harm
and support their wellbeing. Some examples of a legislation by the government would be the
Equality Act, Care Standards Act and the Human Rights Act. These are laws that outline and
structure policies and frameworks that help protect the elderly and support their wellbeing.
There are around 60 million people in the UK. It is the most densely populated country in
Europe and has the world’s fourth largest economy. The UK, like other advanced industrial
societies, has a falling birth rate and increasing numbers of older people. The ratio of
taxpayers to pensioners is falling while the length of time during which people collect
pensions is increasing. When old age pensions were introduced in the early 20th century few
people survived long enough to collect them. Now people survive 25 to 30 years after
retirement. The number of people surviving into extreme old age has grown dramatically but
the number of NHS beds has fallen. However the elderly still need and are entitled to the
same standard of care that a person at any other age would be entitled to.
Care standards act
The Care Standards Act 2000 came into effect in April 2002, replacing the Residential
Homes Act 1984 and the Residential Homes Amendment Act 1991. The Act set up a new
system of national minimum standards for services such as private and voluntary sector
residential and nursing homes and, for the first time, extended the registration requirement to
local authority care homes. The Act also covers regulation of personal domiciliary services,
e.g. helping someone wash or dress, and includes nursing agencies. To achieve its aims, the
Act set up the Commission for Social Care Inspection whose primary aim is to promote
improvements in care via its triple functions of inspection, regulation and review of all social
care services. It provides a comprehensive overview of social care in England and works at a
local level, at a national level, and across all sectors.
The care standards act, is very good at protect the elderly as it sets a structure on what the
standards for care and what is acceptable in a health and care setting and what isn't
acceptable. It also shows that the breaking this law will be punished by law and can lead a
fine or imprisonment. This is a deterrent to anybody who does want to not follow the laws
put in place, and benefits and promotes the wellbeing of the elderly
1
