We support, inform and speak on behalf of older people in care
15 January: R&RA’s director has called on Parliament to take action to ensure essential visitors are granted safe access to care homes to protect the rights of older people. Giving evidence to the Joint Committee on Human Rights, Helen Wildbore said: “In month eleven of visiting restrictions in care homes across England, our helpline continues […] Read More...
22 December: As we reach the end of the most challenging year in decades, it is time to reflect on what has passed, but also to look forward to the hope of a new year. COVID-19 has had a devastating impact. Older people needing care have been at the sharp end of the pandemic, with dire and […] Read More...
Updated 20 January: Older people in care have faced eleven months of isolation. This is having dire and tragic consequences and putting their human rights at risk. As coronavirus cases across England rise and we are under a third national lockdown, updated Government guidance takes us back to prison-like visits behind screens/pods/at windows. Whilst the guidance sets out […] Read More...
10 December: R&RA have joined 100+ organisations calling for the Prime Minister and our political leaders to ensure the response to the pandemic protects the equal human dignity of all people. The open letter calls for human rights protections to help guide the COVID-19 response and recovery, recognising that human rights were born of disaster, in the aftermath […] Read More...
8 December: The Relatives & Residents Association welcomes the action by John’s Campaign to challenge the legality of the Government’s guidance on visiting out of care homes. The guidance states “visits out of care homes should only be considered for care home residents of working age”. R&RA’s Director, Helen Wildbore, said: “The cut-off at working […] Read More...
4 December: The Relatives & Residents Association welcomes the report by the APPG on Coronavirus which calls on the Government to end isolation for people using care services. Echoing R&RA’s campaign, the APPG says isolation is having a “devastating impact on those in social care” and recommends visitors be granted keyworker status to enable visiting […] Read More...
4 December: Blanket and inappropriate use of Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (DNR) orders for care home residents caused potentially avoidable deaths, a Care Quality Commission report has found. The CQC’s review highlights the very worst fears of callers to our helpline, about the response to the pandemic devaluing the lives of older people. Throughout […] Read More...
3 December: The Government has published long-awaited guidance about rolling out testing to family members and friends of those in care, to allow for meaningful visits to take place. Whilst there is much to welcome, this is a far cry from the clear instructions residents and their family/friends had been hoping for and it hasn’t […] Read More...
25 November: It seems the Government has given with one hand and taken with the other. Only yesterday we were welcoming their commitment of testing for family members/friends to allow meaningful visits in care homes by Christmas. Now, their plans to allow us to form ‘Christmas bubbles’ of up to three households specifically exclude older […] Read More...
24 November: Finally, a ray of hope for older people living in care. In month nine of visiting restrictions for care homes across England, the Government has committed to testing for visitors by Christmas, allowing family/friends to have meaningful visits with physical contact. This has been a key ask in R&RA’s campaign to End Isolation […] Read More...