TWO of Thurrock’s leading councillors for adult social care have literally put their names to supporting a series of values and standards for older people.
Cllr Barbara Rice, portfolio holder for adult social care and health, and Cllr James Halden – the shadow cabinet member – both signed the Older People’s Charter, developed with The Older People’s parliament, Thurrock Cover Fifties Forum (TOFF) and through sheltered housing complexes.
Other signatories were Gerry Calder of TOFF and Glynis Pettit from Futures East, members of the age action alliance whose annual general meeting was held on Tuesday (8 September) at The Beehive Grays.
The charter has ten declarations which the council pledges to improve the quality of life of older people.
Cllr Rice said: “The council always does its best for the people who use and need its services, but having a charter like this reminds us all of the importance of each and every one.
“People talk of living documents and the like, but this charter is more than that; it is a commitment from the council – totally cross-party – that we will continue to do everything we can to support those who need our help.”
And Cllr Halden added: “The care of older people is beyond party politics and it gave me great pleasure to sign this charter and commit us all to endorsing and carrying out these ten pledges and help people to age well here in Thurrock.”
The charter recognises the challenges faced by older people and also the contribution they make to Thurrock:
1 Provide good information and advice
2 Treat older people with dignity and respect
3 Give older people a voice and an opportunity to shape services
4 Give older people choice and control over the services they receive and where they receive them. Develop health and care solutions that can be accessed close to home
5 Ensure that older people don’t suffer discrimination because of their age. Create communities where people who are diagnosed with dementia and their carers are nurtured, understood and supported.
6 Focus on prevention to enable older people to stay healthy and live as independently as possible
7 Work across service and professional boundaries to support and care for older people in a way that meets older people’s needs not ours.
8. Support older people to be free from abuse and harm
9 Build more hospitable, age friendly communities. Reduce social isolation and loneliness and help older people to enjoy life.
10 Build high quality housing with the right neighbourhood facilities for older people. As regeneration takes place in Thurrock, ensure older people benefit equally from this.
