Chronic self neglect is causing seniors to suffer amputations, according to Age Concern Executive Director Claudette Fleming.

And she is calling for more community social workers to be appointed in order to stop further tragedies occurring.

She said: "If you have bad diabetes and you hit your foot it can turn into a big gaping wound. If it's not cared for properly gangrene can set in -- eventually you would have to get it amputated.

"I have seen lots of amputees in as a result of seniors not taking proper care of themselves, not eating properly, factors that exacerbate diabetes.

They have feet which are taken off.

"The Diabetes Centre does a good job educating people but lots of times people come away not understanding what it is they have.

"They don't understand how serious a little bruise could be. They have to be reminded.

"They need constant contact with medical professionals.'' Ms. Fleming continued: "But for people who live alone unfortunately there aren't any community social workers.

"They could assess seniors and look at things preventively, before they even get to the stage where people may be depressed and lonely and not motivated and able to care for themselves.

"In crisis situations where it's gotten out of control they can go in and check where to go for needed resources.

"At the moment the only social workers which can be accessed for this type of things are the medical social workers, but they are based in the hospital and they don't go out into the community.

"I did a survey two years ago and occupational therapists, physiotherapists and district nurses all said they could use community social workers, not just for older people.

"There are disabled people who don't have information on how to get resources.

"We need at least one community social worker for each end of the Island and one for the centre but I think the need would grow far beyond that.'' Age Concern in call for more social workers access service and contact family but pressure of work meant it was unfair to expect them to carry out this dual role.

"There is only so much meals on wheels, the district nurse and home resource aids can do given the demand for services now,'' she said.

"They don't have the time to follow up. Social workers are long overdue and we have to take some responsibility for that as a community.

Social workers could also tackle suspected cases of elderly abuse, said Ms.

Fleming.

She said: "It is a problem, mostly neglect, neglecting to take care of an older person the way they should be to the standard they should. That's a big issue.

"It's quite frequent we see it. I have seen it in my previous roles as a social worker.

"There's self neglect, not taking your medication, not bathing, not cleaning, that's a big one, or not exercising.

"Then there's neglect by caregivers. It could be family members, it could be the institution responsible for caring.

"Education is important. Most families look after their families very well but there are ones who don't.'' She said she was certain physical abuse went on but there was no way of getting hard data.

She said: "We need some type of team to assess a person when something is suspected, just like we have with the child protection team.

"Maybe a social worker and a geriatrician to verify it. We need mandatory reporting by professionals.

"Right now there is no one that can do that. The Police can but they are not specific to older people in general.

"We need standards of care and we need enforcement. We will be lobbying for this.'' Geriatric specialist Dr. Khin Myint said: "There is a reporting system in place but there is a question mark over whether we are seeing all that goes on.

"Bruises are very common in the elderly but we don't really have any data to suggest whether elderly abuse is high or low.

"It's very difficult to prove. It's a very delicate situation so with the help of Age Concern perhaps one day we will have a system in the form of law regarding that.

"With child abuse you have a law but not with elderly abuse. It's one of the things we should look into.'' Health Minister Nelson Bascome said the issue of elderly abuse was partly dealt with by new regulations enforcing standards in nursing and care homes.

He said: "The regulations dealt with care procedures. The act improves facility standards which also improves care and protection of our seniors.

It's an issue we have looked at.

"But in terms of any special legislation my technical staff have not brought anything forward because, just like the abuse of a child or the abuse of anyone, it falls within one's human rights.

"We would think it's just a natural part of the right of any individual not to be abused.''