New guide to home care aims to offer 'clarity'
Published on 23 November 2012 05:30 PM
The Equality and Human Rights Commission has launched a new, easy-to-understand guide to home care and the human rights of those in care - aimed at older people, their families and friends.
‘Your rights to home care' aims to empower older people - by making sure that they know they are entitled to a home care service which respects their human rights, however funded.
It also aims to instruct people on what to do if those rights are at risk.
A lifeline to older people
Baroness Sally Greengross, the Home Care inquiry Lead Commissioner, said: ‘We hope that this guide will offer a lifeline to older people and their support networks in helping them to understand what their rights to home care are.
‘Choosing a home care service for yourself or a loved one can be a complicated and emotional process so any help the Commission can offer to provide clarity has to be a good thing.'
The guide features information about what to look for when searching for a home care provider, as well as a checklist of rights home care users are entitled to.
It also includes case studies and details on how to make a complaint, should the need arise.
Good home care must begin and end with the needs of individuals
Age UK believes that the underfunding of the social care system has put the health and dignity of too many older people at risk leading to cuts in many services.
Good home care must begin and end with the needs of individuals rather than focusing on a tick box list of tasks to be completed within a set time.
Michelle Mitchell, Charity Director General at Age UK, explained: ‘Care at home takes place behind closed doors out of sight of local authorities or regulators.
'The ‘Your Home Care' is clear and concise guide to the rights of people who receive home care. Our hope is that it will help give people the confidence to stand up for their rights and take action against poor care, abuse and neglect.
‘Any older person or those caring for them who needs further information can contact Age UK's freephone advice line on 0800 169 6565.'
The launch of the guide follows the Commission's ‘Close to Home' inquiry report that was released one year ago. The report showed that many older people are reluctant to complain about inadequate care.
Read the guide here