A Dignity in Care learning exchange event was held on 25 March with the aim of sharing learning from older people’s experiences of health and social care. The event, organised by Denbighshire’s Older People’s Strategy Development Officer, Sandra Jones, comes hot on the heels of the Commissioner for Older People’s announcement that her first review will be on the treatment of older people while they are in hospital, especially in relation to dignity and respect.
Older people from across the county joined Councillor Bobby Feeley, Older People’s Champion, and professionals from the public and voluntary sectors to discuss their experiences of receiving and providing care, and to identify steps which can be taken to ensure that the dignity of older people is maintained while they are receiving care.
Councillor Feeley said, “There are quality standards covering Dignity in Care, as well as Codes of Practice, which clearly set out the standards of care older people can expect in Denbighshire. Nevertheless, it is not always the case that the experiences of service users meet these standards and steps need to be taken to improve this. Events like the learning exchange held today are vital to make sure that professionals working in the field of health and social care have the chance to share the experiences of older people and find ways to continue current good practice as well as developing ways of improving dignity in care.”
A report on the day’s activities will be sent to the Welsh Assembly as evidence of the continuing work in Denbighshire to promote and safeguard the rights and dignity of older people.
