A pilot evaluation report of a project to recruit, train and support volunteers in eight care homes across Wales. The aim was to support families and friends to visit care homes in line with current Covid guidance, to take the added pressure from care staff and to enhance the wellbeing of residents through activities of interest to them. Seven care homes for older people in Wales took part and were located in Swansea, Aberdare, Neath, Cardiff, Newport and Anglesey. The intervention included pre-placement training induction and ongoing support for volunteers and the recruitment of volunteers. When visits are ongoing with no lockdown protocols, volunteers help run activities. Evidence of positive impact: high level of satisfaction with the training and volunteer role; care homes have all embraced the project with enthusiasm; and primary impact of volunteers has been the regular time, understanding and commitment that they have contributed. Barriers include: lack of time for in-house volunteer management. Key reflections include: the project has had varied success across different care homes, associated with the engagement (and loss) of managers and the effects of COVID-19 on care homes and their staff; low level of volunteers in rural areas; ongoing volunteer management is not consistent across all the care homes; the model of external responsibility for volunteer recruitment, selection and training works well; and do not underestimate task of recruiting and the time needed to manage volunteers. The project exposed four issues for people living and working in care homes and their visitors: the challenge of isolation, time, and separation and the importance of engagement.
(Edited publisher abstract)
A pilot evaluation report of a project to recruit, train and support volunteers in eight care homes across Wales. The aim was to support families and friends to visit care homes in line with current Covid guidance, to take the added pressure from care staff and to enhance the wellbeing of residents through activities of interest to them. Seven care homes for older people in Wales took part and were located in Swansea, Aberdare, Neath, Cardiff, Newport and Anglesey. The intervention included pre-placement training induction and ongoing support for volunteers and the recruitment of volunteers. When visits are ongoing with no lockdown protocols, volunteers help run activities. Evidence of positive impact: high level of satisfaction with the training and volunteer role; care homes have all embraced the project with enthusiasm; and primary impact of volunteers has been the regular time, understanding and commitment that they have contributed. Barriers include: lack of time for in-house volunteer management. Key reflections include: the project has had varied success across different care homes, associated with the engagement (and loss) of managers and the effects of COVID-19 on care homes and their staff; low level of volunteers in rural areas; ongoing volunteer management is not consistent across all the care homes; the model of external responsibility for volunteer recruitment, selection and training works well; and do not underestimate task of recruiting and the time needed to manage volunteers. The project exposed four issues for people living and working in care homes and their visitors: the challenge of isolation, time, and separation and the importance of engagement.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
family members, care homes, volunteers, Covid-19, leisure activities, wellbeing, older people, voluntary work;
Tell Me More is an engagement project which aims to gather insights into the lived experience of care home residents during the Covid-19 pandemic and is funded by Welsh Government. This report details key themes that featured in the conversations we had with people living in care homes during 2021, one of the most challenging times that care homes have experienced as a result of the global pandemic. The report reflects the range of perspectives voiced by residents on care home life, through the restrictions that were in place because of regulation, guidance, or care home policy. It reflects the findings from conversation with 105 residents living in 22 care homes throughout Wales. Everyone we spoke with told us that they had felt safe in the home where they live, they told us that care staff were working to protect them from the virus. Some residents however felt that this, at times, overtook their rights to make individual choices and restricted their freedom to make decisions that affected their quality of life. Residents told us how finding company during the pandemic was very important to them. Despite the barrier of PPE, residents often spoke of staff becoming ‘more like family’ their reason to keep going and the main connector for them with the outside world. However, one of the most talked about subjects we encountered was family visits to the homes. Some residents shared their sadness and frustration about this. Residents told us that they spent most of their time alone and in their rooms. They told us that they had little to look forward too and their days were long. Many residents told us that they found it difficult to know what to do with their days, many felt the effects of the loss of community engagement and fun activities.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Tell Me More is an engagement project which aims to gather insights into the lived experience of care home residents during the Covid-19 pandemic and is funded by Welsh Government. This report details key themes that featured in the conversations we had with people living in care homes during 2021, one of the most challenging times that care homes have experienced as a result of the global pandemic. The report reflects the range of perspectives voiced by residents on care home life, through the restrictions that were in place because of regulation, guidance, or care home policy. It reflects the findings from conversation with 105 residents living in 22 care homes throughout Wales. Everyone we spoke with told us that they had felt safe in the home where they live, they told us that care staff were working to protect them from the virus. Some residents however felt that this, at times, overtook their rights to make individual choices and restricted their freedom to make decisions that affected their quality of life. Residents told us how finding company during the pandemic was very important to them. Despite the barrier of PPE, residents often spoke of staff becoming ‘more like family’ their reason to keep going and the main connector for them with the outside world. However, one of the most talked about subjects we encountered was family visits to the homes. Some residents shared their sadness and frustration about this. Residents told us that they spent most of their time alone and in their rooms. They told us that they had little to look forward too and their days were long. Many residents told us that they found it difficult to know what to do with their days, many felt the effects of the loss of community engagement and fun activities.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
older people, care homes, loneliness, social isolation, social activities, wellbeing, Covid-19, infection control, user views;
Drawing on the results of a survey, this report looks at the provision of advocacy services which support all adults in Wales to provide a broad snapshot of the advocacy landscape. It also highlights changes in the provision of advocacy services aimed specifically at older people. The survey received responses from 22 respondents. The analysis looks at numbers of advocacy services funded specifically for older people; those provided for a wider client group; language; quality of services; funding and sustainability; and the role of advocacy in safeguarding. It finds that although there has been a 69 per cent rise (from 26 to 44) in advocacy services for all age groups across Wales since 2013, there has been a 17 per cent drop (from 23 to 19) in the number of services specifically for older people. Over 60 per cent of providers responded that funding for their current service had less than a year to run. Safeguarding is seen as a high priority for advocacy services, with all of respondents having supported someone who had been abused in the last 12 months. An brief overview of national policy developments and their influence on advocacy services also provided.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Drawing on the results of a survey, this report looks at the provision of advocacy services which support all adults in Wales to provide a broad snapshot of the advocacy landscape. It also highlights changes in the provision of advocacy services aimed specifically at older people. The survey received responses from 22 respondents. The analysis looks at numbers of advocacy services funded specifically for older people; those provided for a wider client group; language; quality of services; funding and sustainability; and the role of advocacy in safeguarding. It finds that although there has been a 69 per cent rise (from 26 to 44) in advocacy services for all age groups across Wales since 2013, there has been a 17 per cent drop (from 23 to 19) in the number of services specifically for older people. Over 60 per cent of providers responded that funding for their current service had less than a year to run. Safeguarding is seen as a high priority for advocacy services, with all of respondents having supported someone who had been abused in the last 12 months. An brief overview of national policy developments and their influence on advocacy services also provided.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
advocacy, older people, surveys, service provision, financing, adults;
Leaflet produced by AgeCymru's Older LGBT+ Network and Pride Cymru providing a list of eight recommendations for care homes to help them improve provision for older LGBT people. The recommendations aim to ensure that LGBT people can live in an environment that is non judgemental and inclusive.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Leaflet produced by AgeCymru's Older LGBT+ Network and Pride Cymru providing a list of eight recommendations for care homes to help them improve provision for older LGBT people. The recommendations aim to ensure that LGBT people can live in an environment that is non judgemental and inclusive.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
LGBT people, older people, care homes, good practice;
Report from AgeCymru which discusses the challenges facing domiciliary care in Wales and what needs to be done to provide a high quality home care service to older people in the future. The report identifies four key areas for action: improvements in commissioning practices and contract monitoring; the regulation and registration of social care workers providing home care, contributing
(Edited publisher abstract)
Report from AgeCymru which discusses the challenges facing domiciliary care in Wales and what needs to be done to provide a high quality home care service to older people in the future. The report identifies four key areas for action: improvements in commissioning practices and contract monitoring; the regulation and registration of social care workers providing home care, contributing to improving the status of the profession; dementia training for domiciliary care staff; and joint working between health and social care to improve care transfers. Case studies are included throughout the report to highlight issues raised.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
home care, older people, home care assistants, care workers, commissioning, dementia, good practice, quality assurance, professional registration, joint working, training;
Based on research and real life examples of the situations that face some people in retirement, this report illustrates the harsh choices older people on living on low incomes often have to make. It shows that poverty and financial hardship are a reality for many older people in Wales. Includes examples of local services provided by AgeCymru, their staff and volunteers, and highlights how
(Edited publisher abstract)
Based on research and real life examples of the situations that face some people in retirement, this report illustrates the harsh choices older people on living on low incomes often have to make. It shows that poverty and financial hardship are a reality for many older people in Wales. Includes examples of local services provided by AgeCymru, their staff and volunteers, and highlights how they can make a real difference to people's lives. Suggests actions the Welsh Government and local authorities should take to tackle pension poverty in Wales.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
low income, older people, poverty, case studies, pensions, advice services;