The number of people who have reached the age of 100 has broken the 10,000 barrier for the first time, figures showed yesterday.

Analysts have put the booming figures of the very elderly down to major improvements over past decades in medical treatment, hygiene, sanitation, nutrition, housing and living standards.

Data from the Office for National Statistics puts the count of centenarians in England and Wales last year at 9,640, a level far ahead of any recorded in the past.

The rate of increase of numbers of very old people is now such that the total is certain to have passed 10,000.  Read more... (397 words, 3 images, estimated 1:35 mins reading time)

There can be few crusaders as selfless in their pursuit of justice on behalf of the helpless as lawyer Yvonne Hossack.

Her campaign has consumed her life for seven years. It has also brought her to the brink of bankruptcy, jeopardised her health and exerted such intolerable pressure on her personal life that it has ended her 23-year marriage.

She has lost her home, her car, her peace of mind and every penny of her savings. She has worked tirelessly and without remuneration on behalf of clients who would otherwise not have a voice.  Read more... (2238 words, 3 images, estimated 8:57 mins reading time)

Yvonne Hossack has dedicated her life to helping the elderly and disabled. She saved 80 care homes from closure. Yesterday, after a witch hunt by council leaders, she was allowed to continue with her crusade.

By Robert Verkaik, Law editor

First Published 19th September 2009

A solicitor who devoted herself to improving the lives of hundreds of disabled and elderly care-home residents has won a historic battle which had threatened to end her career.

Yvonne Hossack, 53, was yesterday cleared of professional misconduct after local councils, angered by her successful campaigns to stop the closure of care homes, mounted a “witch- hunt” to get her removed from the solicitors‘ roll.  Read more... (1129 words, 2 images, estimated 4:31 mins reading time)

A campaigning solicitor has called for an end to the “killer” closures of care homes and for a drastic rethink of elderly care.

Yvonne Hossack spoke out after she was cleared last week over career-threatening allegations of serious professional misconduct.

She said the nationwide closures of homes by local councils – often because they are on valuable building sites – could not be justified if they cost lives.

In an interview with The Sunday Telegraph, Miss Hossack said: “My bottom line is: ‘You don’t kill old ladies and gentlemen’. It’s very simple and it should be a self-evident truth.  Read more... (1403 words, 3 images, estimated 5:37 mins reading time)

Cherie Blair is likely to front a legal action by care homes to get councils around the country to pay more for elderly care.

The wife of the former Prime Minister has provided advice for a coalition of private care home firms, charities and housing associations who run residential and nursing care accommodation across England.

She may also argue on their behalf in the High Court that the care providers should receive more money than they currently do from local authorities for looking after pensioners and disabled people.  Read more... (459 words, 3 images, estimated 1:50 mins reading time)

or the first time there are more people over 65 than under 18, say Department of Health figures.

And life expectancy has risen by 12 years to 78 since 1948.

Mr Burnham told healthcare professionals: “The care system is creaking at the seams and can’t cope.”

At the conference in Manchester, Mr Burnham admitted a postcode lottery exists for provision of local authority care.

“Some people unlucky enough to get Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s can face catastrophic costs and see everything they have worked for drain away.

“We’re proposing a National Care Service, a system that is simple, fair and affordable for all.”  Read more... (175 words, 3 images, estimated 42 secs reading time)

One in four people mistakenly believes the Government will pay for all of their care in old age, according to a Department of Health survey.

In addition, half of those questioned underestimated the true cost of moving into a care home in their twilight years by as much as £20,000.

The figures have been disclosed as ministers try to raise awareness of radical reforms to the “creaking” system of social care for elderly and disabled people in England.

The reforms, announced in July, could include compulsory charges to cover the cost of nursing home care or home help and establish a “National Care Service”.  Read more... (442 words, 3 images, estimated 1:46 mins reading time)

Britain can no longer afford to ignore the issue of growing old, Health Secretary Andy Burnham warned yesterday.

In Dorset and the New Forest, where there are large concentrations of pensioners, the situation is particularly acute. The result is a “healthcare timebomb” that needs dealing with.

It’s a sentiment that Bournemouth’s older people’s champion Cllr Pat Lewis agrees with. She believes people should draw up “life plans,” setting out rough ideas for their old age.

“We do need to anticipate the future,” she said. “It’s not being morbid, it’s being practical.  Read more... (554 words, 3 images, estimated 2:13 mins reading time)

The assistant manager of a privately-run care home has been jailed for three years after burgling the homes of residents while they were in the care home.

Mother-of-three Lesley Adaway, 40, took the addresses and postcodes of elderly folk from documents at the care home and tapped the information into her SatNav to drive to the empty addresses.

She even had the keycodes to enable her to gain entry to the homes of elderly people who had been taken into Highfield Grange care home at Wombwell, South Yorkshire.  Read more... (591 words, 3 images, estimated 2:22 mins reading time)

The system for providing care for the frail and vulnerable elderly can no longer cope, the Health Secretary admitted today.

Andy Burnham said that the state cannot help many of those who cannot look after themselves and warned those approaching old age that they will have to pay heavily for their own care.

Some could face bills of £200,000 to pay for years in care homes, he said, adding that many have no idea of the size of the costs they will meet if they need a care home place.  Read more... (688 words, 3 images, estimated 2:45 mins reading time)