Hundreds of care residents abused

Hundreds of elderly people and younger adults with disabilities may have been abused or put at risk by inadequate care homes and agencies, a regulator has warned.

Thirty-four care homes and eight agencies providing care in people's homes have been shut over the past year after they were found to be abusing residents or risking their safety. Alternative accommodation for about 700 people had to be found, after the Care Quality Commission took action.

Wrongdoing included verbal and psychological abuse of residents, unsafe managing of medicines, lack of medical and nursing care, poor sanitary conditions and lack of staff training.