Care Homes ? An Alternative ? The Equality And Human Rights Commission Think So!

**" Give older people legal right to live in their own homes.

Equalities watchdog demands changes after care home abuses.**

( Interlocks with the main CARE HOMES news thread : https://www.carersuk.org/forum/news-and-campaigns/latest-caring-news/care-homes-providers-agencies-sector-news-closures-scandals-police-investigations-31323?hilit=care%20homes%20scandals. )

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The UK’s equality watchdog has demanded that disabled and older people should have the legal right to homes in the community rather than being forced to live in institutions.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) says concerns about social care and a shortage of suitable homes means a new law is urgently needed. “We need a rethink on how we treat disabled people, including people with mental health conditions, and older people in this country,” said David Isaac, chair of the EHRC. “We hope our call for action will result in a wider conversation. This goes right to the very essence of the sort of country we want to be – where everyone has the support needed to live their daily life.”

Isaac said the rights of disabled and older people were at risk. “Disabled people often feel like second-class citizens, and many are sadly faced with little choice but to move into institutions. They are often left feeling ostracised. We need to ensure that everyone can live as part of their community, where no one is forced out of the place they call home.”

The watchdog says all relevant public bodies should comply with article 19 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which protects the right to live independently and as part of the community. A person would be assumed to want to live in the community unless he or she indicated otherwise.

The crossbench peer Baroness Campbell of Surbiton welcomed the intervention. “We can no longer turn our heads away when we witness some of the horrendous consequences of what happens to disabled people and their families when they are denied such basic human rights to live with dignity, choice and control over their lives. A right the rest of society takes for granted.”

In May the BBC’s Panorama showed abuse and mistreatment of vulnerable adults at Whorlton Hall, a specialist hospital in Co Durham. Similar concerns were raised about another institution, Winterbourne View, eight years ago. “It is clear that existing legislation is failing to protect the rights of all disabled people to live, and reach their full potential, in the community,” said Sue Bott, deputy chief executive at Disability Rights UK.

More than 2,000 people with learning disabilities or autism are being kept in secure hospitals – some have been there for decades – even though the government pledged to cut the number of people in specialist units to zero by 2014, according to a report from the all-party parliamentary group (APPG) on complex needs.

“It’s been eight years since Winterbourne View,” said the APPG’s co-chair, Lord Adebowale. “Yet people with learning disabilities and those who are autistic in secure hospitals are being denied their human rights and are effectively trapped. A person’s relationship with their family and their community is essential to having a decent quality of life.”

It used to be called “Sheltered Housing” with staff on site, until someone invented “remote” wardens.
There is also “Extra Care” housing, rare as rocking horse poo. They built 18 flats for people so that they could move out of long stay hospitals, most remain empty because they can’t get the staff! This is specialist work, but they were only offering minimum wages.

you are so so right.

cant get carers, well pay them the living wage (10.55p.) per hour, and just watch them apply then you can pick the best that you want/need,

these are skilled people dealing with personal care, autism, learning disabilities, peg feed, double incontinence, integrating people into society, unsocial hours, etc.etc.

would you do that for minimum wage!!!

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would you do that for minimum wage ?

8.6 million family / kinship carers do it for a mere fraction of the minimum wage … around 7.8 million for nothing at all beyond
mere scraps.

“A Right to live independently in own home” is a nice wish but who will provide and pay for the care these people need? Many need much more than 2 rushed 15 minute visits a day

yes of course Chris your right. but we do it for the people we love, and the powers that be, know that.

what I was referring to was agency staff etc. and care home staff. basically the whole system is a mess, social care and non existing social care.

… as perfectly amplified by the main Green Paper thread.

If there is anything to learn from that thread , the " Experts " haven’t got a real clue !

Tinkering … perhaps the leading degree held by those experts ?

How to tinker without changing anything ?

At the same time , ignoring the most important factor of all … the bedrock on which the system is based.

OUR CONTRIBUTION !!!

( Paid care workers ? Voting with their feet : https://www.carersuk.org/forum/support-and-advice/all-about-caring/careworker-shortgage-family-carers-to-the-rescue-whilst-balancing-working-with-caring-34158?hilit=care%20worker%20shortage ).

It all boils down to funding - quality care from skilled professionals - costs money.

The ATUs fail not only because the environment is wrong but also because of the quality of the staff - there will be the few caring, good ones but the majority are unskilled. Paying peanuts doesn’t attract the right staff. These places make a fortune and don’t spend it on the clients. If the money saved from inappropriate placements was channelled back into social care - what a difference that would make!

Likewise with support in supported living/own homes etc LA’s are only prepared to pay low amounts for agency and direct payment costs - therefore the care delivered is often unskilled and of low quality. Where we are, if you want quality - you have to have the means to pay for it … Care costs more than it should because at the end of the day it is a business opportunity.

I know, I’m preaching to the converted …

Melly1