We support, inform and speak on behalf of older people in care
As the rest of the country enjoys the gradual easing of lockdown, older people in care have been left behind by the Government once again. Guidance by the Department of Health and Social Care imposes a blanket two week quarantine after each visit out of the care home. This is preventing residents from getting out […] Read More...
Learn more about the role of an Essential Caregiver for care homes in England via our suite of resources FAQs: read frequently asked questions about the role, based on what we hear via our helpline Explainer: our summary of the role as outlined in the Government’s visiting guidance for England and your legal […] Read More...
We welcome the Government’s recognition of the central role Essential Caregivers play in the wellbeing of care home residents. Guidance permitting access to Essential Caregivers (from 8 March) follows our joint call for this, as a ‘first step’ to re-opening care homes. We now call for urgent and united action to ensure […] Read More...
R&RA is calling for urgent and united action to ensure every resident who needs to can access the support of an Essential Caregiver. Older people in care have spent more than a year without close contact and interaction with their relatives/friends, and the introduction of the Essential Caregiver role was a welcome first step to […] Read More...
A year ago our helpline was flooded with anxious and distressed relatives and friends, trying to get to grips with the sudden closing of care homes and the shock of the impact of COVID-19 on our society. Callers were struggling with the conflict between the need to safeguard their loved ones against this new, terrible […] Read More...
23 March 2021: The anniversary of the first COVID-19 national lockdown is a time to reflect on what has passed and remember the people no longer with us. The scale of death is heart-breaking; each statistic a life lost, a family grieving. A year into the pandemic, we also call on the Government to […] Read More...
Blanket and inappropriate use of Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (DNR) orders breached the rights of care users at the start of the pandemic, a Care Quality Commission report has found. The number of older and disabled people having notices placed on them increased dramatically during the past year. In nursing homes the number of DNRs rose […] Read More...
Help us protect older people’s rights The Relatives & Residents Association (R&RA) champions the rights of older people needing care in England. We provide advice, support and information to empower older people, their families and friends via our helpline, and we campaign to protect their rights and improve the quality of care services. Our […] Read More...
15 March 2021: It is now a week since new guidance on visiting came into effect. From what we are hearing on our helpline, the Government’s promise of reuniting families has not become a reality for too many older people. From blanket bans to restrictive rules, below we summarise some of the barriers families have […] Read More...
It seems it is one step forward, two steps back in ending isolation in care. We saw a cautious step forward this week with new guidance permitting face-to-face visits in care homes. But now Government guidance on visits out of care homes takes us backwards in the most appalling way, by specifically excluding older people: […] Read More...