Dignity in Care Campaign 2012

Dignity in Care is a national campaign aimed at ensuring that people, either in care or being cared for by loved ones at home, are treated as individuals, are given a choice and have control and a sense of purpose in their daily lives.

Research shows that carers can, despite their best efforts, struggle to interact and engage with people who are suffering from certain illnesses and so this campaign aims to help break through these issues to help ensure those in care enjoy as good a quality of life as possible.

In Worcestershire the commitment to training care staff and providing service users with a good quality of life is ongoing and the authority's Adult and Social Care team's commitment to re-enforcing these messages never ends.

Dignity Action Day – 1st February, 2012

Dignity Action Day gives everyone the opportunity to contribute to upholding people's rights to dignity and provide a truly memorable day for people receiving care.

Dignity Action Day aims to ensure people in care are treated as individuals, are given choice, control and a sense of purpose in their daily lives and provide stimulating activities.

"Dignity in Care must be everybody's business. I hope people will step up to this challenge and do whatever is in their power to make a difference."
Sir Michael Parkinson, Dignity Champion

Dignity Action Day asks everybody - members of the public and Health and Social Care staff to give the gift of time. We can all make a difference!

This year Worcestershire County Council will be raising awareness and promoting Dignity through our Dignity song (see below) a poster campaign, bookmarks, a Dignity tree and Dignity wristbands where you need to make a "Dignity Pledge" to receive one.

Those taking an active role include:  ACS Libraries, Provider Services, Reviewing Team, Worcestershire NHS PCT, Worcestershire NHS ACUTE, ACT and Worcestershire Residential and Nursing Homes.

Supporting Dignity Action Day will:

• Raise awareness of the importance of Dignity in Care.
• Provide someone with an extra special day.
• Remind society that the dignity of those in your community is not the sole responsibility of health or social care staff- everyone has a role to play.
• Remind the public that staff have a right to be treated with dignity and respect too.
• Be part of a national celebration and demonstrate solidarity for Dignity in Care.

For more information visit www.dhcarenetworks.org.uk/dignityincare/

To help raise more awareness of the importance of Dignity in Care, Alanna Boden, 25, has written and produced a song called "Hello", which is being used raise awareness of Dignity in Care and will be used for training purposes in the future.

Listen to 'Hello' - Dignity in Care Song

Click the play button below to listen online.

You can download and/or upgrade Windows Media Player FREE from the Windows website.

Copyright © 2009 Alanna Boden. Permission granted to reproduce for personal and educational use only. Permission for public performance is required. Commercial copy, hiring, lending is prohibited. All other rights reserved.

Cllr. Philip Gretton, Worcestershire County Council's Cabinet Member for Adult and Community Services, said:

"I was really surprised to find myself moved by the words of the song and its music. Many of us rarely see very vulnerable and frail people since we don’t regularly visit care homes, hospital wards or see such people where they are supported to live in their own homes."

"We assume or hope that these people are cared for with dignity, especially in the knowledge that we ourselves may be in the same situation in the future. The song "Hello" makes an eloquent plea on behalf of those receiving care to be treated as people with feelings, preferences and opinions."