Five Years of Dignity in Care Forum

Staff from almost 60 residential care homes across Plymouth will be gathered to celebrate five years of the ‘Dignity in Care Forum’ this month.

The Forum was set up in 2009 with the aim of providing a network for those working in the caring profession to share best practice, with the ultimate aim of ensuring quality and achieving better standards of care in homes throughout the city.

To mark this special anniversary at the Forum’s 21st meeting, residents from some of the city’s care homes will be there to share their views about what dignity means to them and their experiences of living in a care home.

Plymouth’s Singing for Brain choir will also be performing to celebrate the fantastic work happening in the city around dementia.

Councillor Sue McDonald, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Adult Social Care, said: “Dignity is a subjective word – it means different things to different people. That is why one of the most important aspects of caring for someone in old age or illness is to ensure we listen and do what is asked of us wherever possible. We must ensure individuals’ views are heard and treat them with the respect they deserve.

“I’m extremely pleased that the Dignity in Care Forum is a meeting that is here to stay in Plymouth. It’s so useful to get together as professionals to share best practice and lean on each other for support.

"I’ve said it before, and I’ll continue to say it, here in Plymouth we do not see an ageing population as a problem, as it is often referred to nationally, we are very pleased that people are living for longer.

"What it does mean is that we must be creative and find new and cost effective ways to support people as they get older.

"This is all part of the Caring Plymouth work we are doing to create a feeling of solidarity between the generations. This same feeling must be shared across our caring professions, and the Forum is exactly the kind of supportive network we want to encourage.”

For more information about the Dignity in Care Forum, contact Hannah Shaw on 01752 307385, or qaiteam@plymouth.gov.uk