The Older People’s Commissioner for Wales wants to hear from older people living in care homes, their friends and family, and care home staff about their experiences during the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown.
The Commissioner wants to hear about any issues and challenges they have faced, or are facing, and what needs to change to protect and support people living and working in care homes. She also wants people to share examples of any action and good practice being delivered in care homes that is making a positive difference to older people’s lives.
The information shared will support the Commissioner in her ongoing work to influence the action being taken to protect people living and working in care homes, and help her to scrutinise the response of the Welsh Government and other public bodies to the Covid-19 pandemic and hold them to account for the decisions they have made.
Alongside this, the Commissioner will also use the information shared with her as a powerful evidence base to shape the wider discussion and debate about the ways that social care needs to be transformed, and what is needed to ensure that social care is valued and properly supported, as we look to the future.
Older People’s Commissioner for Wales, Heléna Herklots CBE, said:
“Care homes play an essential role in helping to ensure that some of our most vulnerable citizens have the best possible quality of life and should be places where older people are kept safe and protected. What we have seen unfolding in our care homes in recent weeks is a tragedy, and my thoughts are with families and friends throughout Wales who have lost loved ones.
“I want to give a voice to older people living in care homes, their family and friends, and care workers throughout Wales so that their experiences can be used to ensure the right action is taken to protect and support people living and working in care homes.
“They are experts by experience, and it’s crucial that their voices are heard and are at the centre of discussions and plans about what happens next as we navigate the difficult path ahead of us.
“I want to hear about the issues and challenges people have faced or are still facing and whether the action and support that has been promised – on testing and provision of PPE, for example – is being delivered on the ground.
“This will not only help me to scrutinise the action being taken in response to the Covid-19 outbreak and hold the Welsh Government and other public bodies to account, but will also ensure that the voices of older people, their families, friends and care home staff are at the heart of discussions, debate and decisions about the future of social care in Wales.”
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