Hourglass CEO Richard Robinson speaks at Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill Evidence Hearing

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On 29th January 2025, Hourglass CEO Richard Robinson provided evidence on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, highlighting the urgent need for specialist training in assisted dying decisions. Safeguarding older people must be a priority in end-of-life care policies.

What is the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill?

 

The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill was introduced by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater in October 2024 and would ‘allow adults who are terminally ill, subject to safeguards and protections, to request and be provided with assistance to end their own life’. The bill in its current state specifies certain requirements such as:

 

-        They must be expected to die within six months

-        They must have the mental capacity to make the choice and be deemed to have expressed a clear, settled and informed wish, free from coercion or pressure

-        Two independent doctors must be satisfied the person is eligible

-        A high court judge must hear from at least one of the doctors

-        Two separate declarations must be made about the person’s wish to die

 

 In November, MPs overwhelmingly voted in favour of the bill. Currently as of writing, the bill is being scrutinised by a committee of 23 MPs who are holding public hearings and taking evidence from experts before proposing amendments.

 

Hourglass’ thoughts on the bill

 

Central to our core mission is the drive towards a Safer Ageing Society. This will ensure that dignity, autonomy, equality and safety is at the heart of all government policy and legislation.

Safeguards and specialist training on spotting the abuse and coercion of older people must be given to all professionals involved in relation to any advanced decision-making process.

Hourglass has over 30 years’ experience dealing with older victim-survivors of abuse. We see the devastating impact of coercive and controlling behaviour on older people, and we must learn lessons and embed more robust safeguarding protocols into all systems.

All legislative change must prioritise the safety of the older person and that is only achievable through understanding the unique nature of the abuse of older people and the specific challenges posed.

During the Committee hearing on the 29th January, CEO of Hourglass Richard Robinson said:

We’d like to see a safer ageing society by 2050 and we believe older people as a demographic should have an independent choice of what they want to do and that fits within our safer ageing viewpoint.

However, safeguarding is at the very heart of this and until society can take the safeguarding of older people more seriously and look at training of abuse, in the same way as other forms of abuse, there is a much broader question to be asked.

The lack of understanding

We regularly deal with requests from those in the medical field, judiciary, police, local councils and service providers who lack an understanding of the abuse of older people and lack confidence in spotting the signs.

This is especially true when it comes to coercive control. Despite the new offence of Coercive and Controlling Behavior (CCB) through the Domestic Abuse Act, professionals still have a limited level of understanding on the role and prevalence of CCB in the abuse of older people.

This is a significant concern, as there is a potential risk that pressure and coercion could result in older and vulnerable people feeling that they have to end their lives. As Hourglass sees with calls to our 24/7 helpline regarding coercive control, there is the potential for perpetrators, who are usually family members, seeking economic gain and coercing an older person to feel as if there is an obligation to end their own lives.

Coercion and abuse is seen frequently in other forms of advanced decision-making, such as Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs), the misuse of which is commonly reported to our helpline services. From 2023-2024, over 65% of calls in which power of attorneys were mentioned, economic abuse was also mentioned. This type of abuse is devastating and is on the rise, with investigations of abuse from the Office of the Public Guardian rising 28% from 2023 to 2024.

We are fully in support of Fabian Hamilton MP’s Powers of Attorney Bill, which aims to bolster safeguards to protect vulnerable people from being exploited through the misuse of LPAs. The bill is due for its second reading later this year.

The need for review

What the ongoing hearings, evidence from witnesses and conversation around advanced decision making has made clear is that current safeguards in place need review. Paramount to any legislative development around advanced decision-making is the safety and protection of older and vulnerable people.

The abuse of older people is significantly underplayed in policy discussions in all areas, including advanced decision-making. Over 2.6 million people in the UK are affected by the abuse of older people every year. Hourglass is delivering over 75,000 impacts annually, with waiting lists for specialist support from IDVA, ISVA and DA support staff, yet this is just the tip of the iceberg.

The abuse of older people is a significant and widespread concern, not a minority issue and our research points to it being a growing issue, not one that is narrowing.

For advanced decision-making legislation to truly protect older people, we need greater understanding and awareness. Central to this is the provision of specialist training on the nature of abuse, spotting the signs and being able to understand the specific challenges that older victim-survivors face.

Hourglass will continue to represent older victim-survivors in these debates moving forward and will continue to press the need for a safer ageing society by 2050.

 

Older people are victims of the same forms of abuse as all other age groups. Yet their voices are rarely heard. OATH is about creating a voice so loud that it cannot be ignored any longer. Sign your name and take the OATH today: https://www.wearehourglass.org/oath

If you’re over the age of 60 and experiencing abuse, or are concerned about an older person, call our 24/7 helpline on 0808 808 8141 or visit our support page here: https://wearehourglass.org/hourglass-services

 

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