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A place to call home? A review into the quality of life and care of older people living in care homes in Wales
- Author:
- OLDER PEOPLE'S COMMISSIONER FOR WALES
- Publisher:
- Older People's Commissioner for Wales
- Publication year:
- 2014
- Pagination:
- 156
- Place of publication:
- Cardiff
A review into the quality of life and care of older people living in care homes in Wales, investigating four key areas: day-to-day life; health and wellbeing; people and leadership; and commissioning, regulation and inspection. The review looked at a number of factors that can impact upon the quality of life of older people living in care homes, such as social participation, the care home environment, access to healthcare services, diet, staff capacity and training. The report draws on the evidence from unannounced visits to 100 care homes across Wales to observe the day-to-day realities of life in a care home and to hear directly from older people about their quality of life and care, and their experiences of living in residential and nursing care. In addition to this, over 2,000 questionnaire responses were collected from care home residents and their families and extensive written and oral evidence was taken from a wide range of public bodies, care providers and experts in care delivery. The report highlights the following findings: 1. Too many older people living in care homes quickly become institutionalised. 2. Too often, care homes are seen as places of irreversible decline and too many older people are unable to access specialist services and support that would help them to have the best quality of life. 3. The emotional frailty and emotional needs of older people living in care homes are not fully understood or recognised by the system and emotional neglect is not recognised as a form of abuse. 4. Some of the most basic health care needs of older people living in care homes are not properly recognised or responded to. 5. The vital importance of the role and contribution of the care home workforce is not sufficiently recognised. 6. Commissioning, inspection and regulation systems are inconsistent, lack integration, openness and transparency, and do not formally recognise the importance of quality of life. 7. A current lack of forward planning means that the needs of older people in care homes will not be met in the future. The report concludes with a set of detailed requirements for action. (Edited publisher abstract)
The importance and impact of community services within Wales
- Author:
- OLDER PEOPLE'S COMMISSIONER FOR WALES
- Publisher:
- Older People's Commissioner for Wales
- Publication year:
- 2014
- Pagination:
- 45
- Place of publication:
- Cardiff
This report makes a strong business case for key local and community-based services and facilities, such as buses and community transport, public toilets, pavements, public seating, outdoor areas, libraries, leisure facilities, and community and day centres. The report argues that community services are essential to the health, wealth, and wellbeing of villages, towns, cities and communities and the overall health of the economy and as a result they should be regarded as community assets rather than costs. They are essential to enable older people to continue to make a contribution and to undertake activities that have economic benefit. Community services are fundamental to the prevention of frailty and maintenance of health and wellbeing of older people and they are integral to the delivery of key policy priorities and statutory services cost containment. The report calls on local authorities to engage and consult more effectively with older people when key decisions are made about community services and concludes that a real culture shift is required in terms of community service planning and delivery, moving towards a more sustainable, innovative, long-term, integrated approach to secure better outcomes with fewer resources. (Edited publisher abstract)
Best practice guidance for engagement and consultation with older people on changes to community services in Wales
- Author:
- OLDER PEOPLE'S COMMISSIONER FOR WALES
- Publisher:
- Older People's Commissioner for Wales
- Publication year:
- 2014
- Pagination:
- 16
- Place of publication:
- Cardiff
This guidance is intended for local authorities when proposing changes to community services, to ensure full and meaningful engagement with older people when key decisions are being made regarding services and facilities that are important to them. These include local buses, public toilets, libraries, day and community centres, and lifelong learning. Local authorities must have regard to this guidance when discharging their functions and the Older People’s Commissioner will use it as a standard by which to assess the extent to which they are safeguarding and promoting the interests of older people in Wales. This document outlines the legal context, sets out the duties of local authorities to pursue practical engagement with older people and describes a framework of requirements for a more formal, focused engagement through consultation. Guidance on the role of equality impact assessment in engagement and consultation is also included. (Edited publisher abstract)