All adults and older person living in a care home have the right to connect with family, friends and community.
Care homes should support this and not put barriers or restrictions in place. Scotland’s Health and Social Care Standards set out what people should expect when using health, care or social work services.
In 2022, two new Standards were introduced that cover the right to visit even when there is an outbreak of infectious disease such as Covid-19, norovirus or flu.
We have published guidance for care homes on how they must implement visiting in line with the two new Standards. Legislation is being developed by Scottish Government that will enshrine visiting rights in law. For now, this is known as Anne’s Law.
Catharine Fletcher, an adult volunteer, co presented a webinar on Meaningful Connection. This focussed on how to respect family members as partners in care. Catharine spoke from her own personal experience of having a loved one staying in a care home. She emphasised the value of having meaningful contact not only for herself, but her family member.
Catharine’s input received excellent feedback, which highlighted the difference and authenticity of hearing experiences from family carers.
“It was great to have Catharine involved in the webinar and podcast. She spoke very articulately and informatively about her experiences, and it was really appreciated by the webinar attendees with some great feedback, which I have shared with Catharine”. Inspector - Meaningful Connection, Visiting and Anne’s Law Project
“Love these webinars where we come together to share ideas. Residents and their families are at the centre of everything, so share with pride! I particularly enjoyed Catherine sharing her experience from a relative's perspective. The emotion in her voice was audible and really gave food for thought”. Webinar attendee.
Catherine told us how she felt her lived experience had been useful to the Meaningful Connection Programme.
“When I was approached by Sheri (Meaningful Connection, Visiting and Anne’s Law Project) to co-present in the Meaningful Connection Programme, it was a lovely feeling to be able to get across my experiences of being a family carer of a care home resident. I was able to reflect on our family story before, during and after Covid-19.
“Quite often as a daughter, I felt unseen and unheard, but being involved in the Meaningful Connection webinar helped me express, in a positive way the importance of meaningful contact. It is important that we talk about our experiences, as this is how we learn. It also helped me believe that my thoughts and feelings were validated. For me and many others who have family in care homes, we are our loved one’s world and their everything. We have lived through the trauma and know how it feels. It is good to see that this webinar, highlighting the importance of family life, as a human right, is being promoted by the Care Inspectorate.
“My mum has sadly passed away, but I would like to think that by sharing our lived experiences of care home life, they can become a place within the local community. Care homes are for the living, and spending time with people who matter to you.
Keeping healthy and active for as long as you can, should be as important as what you wear or eat. We know that keeping mobile, and mentally active is so very important. Family members are part of the team, and can provide the special moments, that can never be replaced.”
“For me and many others who have family in care homes, we are our loved one’s world and their everything”. (Catherine)
Thank you Catherine, for all your valuable contributions and helping write this.
If you want to find out more about Meaningful Contact – Anne’s Law, you can read about it on our website.
The above information is from Care Inspectorate Care News Mon 02/10/2023
Find out more about our work at: www.careinspectorate.com