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Toilet closures isolate elderly | Toilet closures isolate elderly |
(about 10 hours later) | |
The closure of public toilets is leaving older people with incontinence isolated and afraid to leave home, according to Help the Aged. | The closure of public toilets is leaving older people with incontinence isolated and afraid to leave home, according to Help the Aged. |
More than half of the 1,000 people questioned said the lack of suitable facilities stopped them going out. | More than half of the 1,000 people questioned said the lack of suitable facilities stopped them going out. |
The charity says that too many local authorities are closing toilets in order to save money. | The charity says that too many local authorities are closing toilets in order to save money. |
The Local Government Association (LGA) says that councils have often had to close toilets because of vandalism. | The Local Government Association (LGA) says that councils have often had to close toilets because of vandalism. |
We have the very British taboo of bodily functions Pamela HolmesHelp the Aged | We have the very British taboo of bodily functions Pamela HolmesHelp the Aged |
The Help the Aged survey found that 80% of older people found it difficult to locate a public toilet when they needed one. | The Help the Aged survey found that 80% of older people found it difficult to locate a public toilet when they needed one. |
And more than three-quarters of those surveyed said the toilets were not open when they needed them. | And more than three-quarters of those surveyed said the toilets were not open when they needed them. |
Human rights | Human rights |
The charity is urging local councils to stop closing their facilities and to improve those that remain open. | The charity is urging local councils to stop closing their facilities and to improve those that remain open. |
Help the Aged says the isolation and inactivity caused by anxiety over where to find a toilet are detrimental to people's physical and mental well-being. | Help the Aged says the isolation and inactivity caused by anxiety over where to find a toilet are detrimental to people's physical and mental well-being. |
And it cites incontinence as the second most important reason - after dementia - for a move into residential care. | And it cites incontinence as the second most important reason - after dementia - for a move into residential care. |
Six million people in the UK are thought to have some degree of incontinence. | Six million people in the UK are thought to have some degree of incontinence. |
The charity estimates one in 10 people over 65 experiences involuntary bladder contractions while 15% of older people still living at home have faecal incontinence. | The charity estimates one in 10 people over 65 experiences involuntary bladder contractions while 15% of older people still living at home have faecal incontinence. |
"It violates human rights and denies dignity when councils are closing more and more public toilets," said Pamela Holmes, of Help the Aged. | "It violates human rights and denies dignity when councils are closing more and more public toilets," said Pamela Holmes, of Help the Aged. |
"We have the very British taboo of bodily functions, yet one on three of us will develop incontinence at some point in our lives." | "We have the very British taboo of bodily functions, yet one on three of us will develop incontinence at some point in our lives." |
Mapping exercise | Mapping exercise |
Help the Aged wants more research to be undertaken into the causes, prevention and treatment of the condition. | Help the Aged wants more research to be undertaken into the causes, prevention and treatment of the condition. |
It wants to see the reinstatement of a national mapping exercise to determine the level of provision which, until 2001, was undertaken by the Audit Commission. | It wants to see the reinstatement of a national mapping exercise to determine the level of provision which, until 2001, was undertaken by the Audit Commission. |
It is estimated that since 2001 toilet provision has fallen by 40%. | It is estimated that since 2001 toilet provision has fallen by 40%. |
As people get older they need to use the toilet more often and frequently with greater urgency, according to the charity. | As people get older they need to use the toilet more often and frequently with greater urgency, according to the charity. |
Those surveyed also mentioned hygiene and cleanliness as being vital considerations when deciding whether or not to use toilet facilities. | Those surveyed also mentioned hygiene and cleanliness as being vital considerations when deciding whether or not to use toilet facilities. |
Local authorities have the power to open and maintain public toilets but are under no obligation to do so. | Local authorities have the power to open and maintain public toilets but are under no obligation to do so. |
Help the Aged says that as budgets have become tighter, local councils have seen cutting toilet provision as a "soft target". | Help the Aged says that as budgets have become tighter, local councils have seen cutting toilet provision as a "soft target". |
Community scheme | Community scheme |
In London, the Borough of Richmond - faced with dilapidated public toilets - developed a Community Toilet Scheme. | |
The council recruited local businesses to allow the public to use their toilets without having to buy anything. | The council recruited local businesses to allow the public to use their toilets without having to buy anything. |
The business is paid £600 a year for maintenance and many owners have found sales have improved as a result of an increase in the numbers of people entering the premises. | The business is paid £600 a year for maintenance and many owners have found sales have improved as a result of an increase in the numbers of people entering the premises. |
The LGA says toilets are just one of many services that councils have to make hard choices about. | The LGA says toilets are just one of many services that councils have to make hard choices about. |
"In many instances councils have had no option but to close some public toilet facilities as a result of vandalism or persistent misuse by drug users and other criminals," said an LGA spokesperson. | "In many instances councils have had no option but to close some public toilet facilities as a result of vandalism or persistent misuse by drug users and other criminals," said an LGA spokesperson. |
The association says that in spite of escalating maintenance and staff costs, councils are coming up with innovative and inventive ways to tackle the shortage. | The association says that in spite of escalating maintenance and staff costs, councils are coming up with innovative and inventive ways to tackle the shortage. |
"Councils are committed to providing clean, safe and accessible toilets to the public where they are needed within the area." | "Councils are committed to providing clean, safe and accessible toilets to the public where they are needed within the area." |
And the spokesperson said that the government needed to ensure that local authorities had adequate resources to provide them where they are a priority. | And the spokesperson said that the government needed to ensure that local authorities had adequate resources to provide them where they are a priority. |
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