THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 84 | PAGE 11
Coalition Calls for End to Isolation A coalition of organisations has written to local health and care leaders calling on them to put an end to “harmful isolation practices” and to help promote the rights of people in care. Organisations representing both care providers and users signed the joint letter highlighting the ‘severe, detrimental impact’ isolation from family and friends can have on people living in care and the key role local leaders play in protecting their rights. The letter seeks to address a barrier to visiting many are facing when local health teams impose blanket approaches. The letter calls on local health and care teams to fulfil their legal duties by ensuring restrictions on contact are proportionate. It also provides them with information resources to promote ‘essential caregivers’ to ensure every resident can benefit from this role, so vital to their wellbeing. The joint action is an initiative of the Relatives & Residents Association,
the campaign group Rights for Residents and academic Dr Caroline Emmer De Albuquerque Green of King’s College London. Signatories to the letter include Healthwatch England, the National Care Forum and Care England. A copy of the letter sent to Directors of Public Health, Directors of Adult Social Services, Local Authority Public Health Teams and UKHSA Health Protection Teams is available here - http://www.relres.org/wpcontent/uploads/Letter-isolation-in-care.pdf. It was accompanied by information resources https://www.relres.org/essential-caregivers/ (a factsheet and poster) to encourage local leaders to promote the role of essential caregiver. Find out more about R&RA’s campaign to End Isolation In Care https://www.relres.org/endisolationincare/
New Global Standards to Enhance the Quality of Life for Older People This week, two new international standards aimed at enhancing the quality of life for older people were approved by ISO (International Standardization Organisation). The standards were unanimously backed following four years of international collaboration with the UK committee being led by its volunteer Chair, Paul Newman, Chief Executive of Greensleeves Care. ‘A framework for dementia-inclusive communities’ and ‘General requirements and guidelines for an age-inclusive workforce’ join the existing ‘General requirements and guidelines for carer-inclusive organizations’ as the pioneering standards to be developed under the Ageing Societies banner. The work brings together international experts from academia, industry and the public sector, who are committed to improving the quality of life for older people
across the globe. In addition to representing the UK overseas and coordinating UK input to all of the standards, Newman personally drafted sections and edited the final version of the dementia standard. Newman said: “In addition to my professional experience of supporting people living with dementia at Greensleeves Care, I have had to do this in a personal capacity for my family and have been dismayed at how local communities do not make small adjustments to ensure their neighbourhoods are dementia-inclusive and people living with dementia can retain their independence for longer. Society needs to do better. This framework is the first, officially accredited standard to address this challenge and will make life easier for people living with dementia and their families, wherever they live around the world.”
Britta Berge, International Chair of the ISO Ageing Societies Committee and based in Washington DC, said: “What a great way to start the New Year. I would like to thank Paul for his hard work and leadership throughout this process.” The two new standards will be published this Spring and are available from the BSI (British Standards Institution) and ISO. I’m getting in touch to share a story on behalf of Exemplar Health Care. The care home provider has recently celebrated the graduation of its first training associates. The learners started the programme in October 2019 and have spent the last two years studying to become a Nursing Associate, alongside working in an Exemplar Health Care home.