Almost a year old, The Big Q calls for quality care for all older people. Research carried out by Age Concern reveals that eight out of ten people in Gloucestershire are very concerned about the quality of care that they or a loved one would get in later life. Four out of ten people are not even confident they will be treated with dignity or respect, dealing another huge blow to the image of care services across the country.
These findings provide powerful evidence of how the care system is routinely failing older people and their families.
Preceding a major Government consultation about the future of care, we are calling for radical reform of the system. The Big Q campaign demands better care that enables people to keep their dignity, their rights and control of their lives.
Polling carried out for Age Concern found that people throughout Britain, of all ages and incomes, are deeply worried about the quality of the personal care they might get if they needed help with everyday tasks like getting out of bed, washing, dressing or taking medication.
You can show your support for the campaign by filling in and posting (no stamp required) one of our campaign postcards – and getting as many of your friends and relatives to do the same. Postcards are available free of charge from Age Concern Gloucestershire.
The more that are returned, the more evidence we will have to show the government the groundswell of concern about the current care system and the need for radical reform.
During 2009 we are hoping to hold a Listening Event when older people will have the opportunity to put relevant questions to a local MP.
