Do you believe that dignity and respect is a basic human right? People are being urged to pledge their support to the Dignity in Bucks campaign, launched on Wednesday by Buckinghamshire's Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Board (SVAB).
The aim of the initiative is to raise awareness, and encourage more respect for older people in the county. The campaign is for everyone, whether caring for a friend or relative, a professional involved in commissioning, safeguarding or working in a caring role in an organisation, or for individuals who simply believe that everyone should be treated with dignity and respect.
By asking people to pledge their support, the campaign aims to put dignity at the heart of care services with zero tolerance for abuse and to treat every individual with dignity and respect. To pledge your support simply email dignity@buckscc.gov.uk and put ‘dignity’ in the subject line, or call 01296 382173 and leave your contact details.
Patricia Birchley, Buckinghamshire County Council's Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, who is encouraging more councillors to pledge their support today, said: "The smallest thing can make a huge difference to someone, especially during this cold snap we are currently experiencing. The icy weather means that it may be difficult for some elderly people to get out and about, so just a neighbourly knock on the door to see if they need some essential shopping, or check they are okay is just one of the things we can do to help."
Charles Owen-Conway, chair of the SVAB, wants everyone to take notice: “Dignity and respect has been shown to be quite lacking in various reports from the national press. Although the national publicity is centred around people in care, often a care home or hospital, dignity and respect should be practised in our everyday lives.”
Georgie Rixon, chair of MKB Care, the membership organisation for Care Homes and Homecare Agencies in Buckinghamshire, and a member of the SVAB, will be encouraging their members to pledge their support: “I fully support this campaign and our aim over the next year is encourage the forty plus homecare agencies in the county to sign up and do something, however small, to make a difference in the lives of the people for whom they care.”
The Oxford Health NHS Foundation, also part of the SVAB, will be holding tea parties on Dignity Action Day for elderly people in their care.
If you experience, witness or suspect abuse report it to safeguarding careline on 0800 137 915.