Since we started the Rights for Residents Campaign last September it’s received huge media attention. We’re working closely with many journalists and reporters and have the support of many MPs from across the political spectrum.
We’re also working with other Charities and organisations that are lobbying very hard to end the inhumane visiting restrictions imposed on care home residents.
Our campaign was adopted by the Daily Mail last December and the amount of publicity generated on radio, TV and in newspapers has been phenomenal. MPs have also been pressing the Government very hard on the issue. Due to the huge pressure the Campaign has generated Ministers have been forced to adopt many of the changes we’ve called for:
- 2nd December the Government Guidance on care home visiting was revised to instruct care homes to make indoor face to face indoor visits the default position and the Government gave care homes rapid LFT tests to use for visiting relatives to make visiting safer. This was a step towards meeting our campaign demands.
Unfortunately, all visits stopped again during the latest national lockdown. We then campaigned very hard for indoor contact visits to be restarted and in addition, at least one family member would be designated as an Essential Care Giver. Now that we have PCR tests, rapid flow LFT tests, PPE and most residents and relatives have been vaccinated - these essential family carers should be allowed to visit during future outbreaks or lockdowns.
- 8th March 2021 the Government Guidance on care home visiting was further revised to once again instruct care homes to reinstate face to face indoor visits. In direct response to pressure from campaigners the Government acknowledged the need for residents to have access to Essential Care Givers during Covid outbreaks. This was a further victory for campaigners.
The Government refuse to mandate the guidance and make it legally enforceable. As it remains advisory only, many care homes are refusing to implement it. The result is a postcode lottery with some care homes allowing meaningful visits and while others refuse. Some care homes are limiting contact to one thirty minute visit for every resident once a week, fortnight or three weeks which is at odds with the new guidelines and yet there are no consequences for care homes that refuse to follow them. Relatives are powerless in the face of this intransigence and the only way to ensure that all residents are treated equally is for a change in the law. We will continue to campaign for this to happen.
We will continue lobby for our rights as Essential Family Care Givers to be enshrined in law so that in future people cannot be locked away for what is now over a year without meaningful access to their families. The Prime Minister has promised that everyone that by June they will be enjoying most of the freedoms they had before the pandemic. No such promise has been extended to care homes and the majority are still not allowed outdoors having had no fresh air or exercise for over twelve months.
In order to continue this vital campaign we need to raise funds. We are working round the clock to ensure this barbaric situation never happens again. Every week we get a step closer and your support ensures our work can continue until all residents have equal visiting rights.
All funds go towards meeting expenses and cover a small salary to two campaign managers who work relentlessly to generate media publicity and increase support from MPs and other key organisations with influence. We’re grateful for every donation and even a small gift helps our vital work. If you can support our campaign please visit our fund raising page and share our petition as widely as you can:
www.gofundme.com/f/Cant-smile-without-you
We appreciate that these are unprecedented times and that the situation is difficult for everyone. Thanks much for supporting what we do.
Jenny & Diane (Rights for Residents)
You can visits our website to view a selection of media articles generated by our campaign: