The Big Care Home Conversation
Published on 08 April 2013 09:00 AM
Care homes for older people will be under the spotlight this week (8-12 April) as part of a national campaign.
Age Cymru's My Home Life Cymru programme is running the Big Care Home Conversation.
The campaign's purpose is to get us all talking and thinking about the way we look at residential care homes.
John Moore My Home Life Cymru‘s programme manager says:
"There are over 700 care homes for older people in cities, towns and villages right across Wales, yet most of us will have very limited contact with them.
"Our only direct experience of care homes may well be when a family member or friend moves into one, often at short notice due to illness or an accident.
"Combine that with the one-sided way the media often portrays care homes, and for many of us that is the sum total of our understanding of care homes."
The Big Care Home Conversation will be challenging the public's misconceptions about care homes, as John Moore explains:
"Being part of a care home community - by either living in, visiting or working in one for most of us, is a very rewarding and positive experience.
"We want to change the way people think about care homes by getting us all talking and learning about care homes during the Big Care Home Conversation."
The public can get involved in by watching a series of short films about care homes and joing a conversation on The Big Care Home Conversation web page.
During the Big Care Home Conversation, My Home Life Cymru will be promoting its new publication ‘Care Home Checklist - helping you make the right choice'.
This is aimed at people who are going to be choosing a care home for themselves or a family member or friend and includes a foreword by the Older People's Commissioner for Wales.
It covers subjects including maintaining your identity in a care home; sharing decision making; creating a community in a care home, and managing the move into a home.
‘Care Home Checklist - helping you to make the right choice' is available from Age Cymru offices and shops across Wales or by ringing 029 2043 1555.