The Older People’s Commissioner for Wales is urging older people living in care homes, their families and friends, and care home staff throughout Wales to get in touch with her to share their experiences during the Covid-19 Pandemic and lockdown.

The Commissioner wants to give them a voice so that their experiences can be used to ensure the right action is taken to protect and support people living and working in care homes.

Since the Commissioner first put out her call just over a week ago, over 100 people have responded, highlighting the issues and difficulties they have experienced over the past few months, as well as sharing examples of things that are making a positive difference to older people’s lives during this difficult time, in particular the hard work and dedication of care home staff.

But the Commissioner wants to hear from even more people living and working in care homes throughout Wales, to create an even more powerful evidence base to support her in her ongoing work to influence the action being taken to protect residents and staff, and help her to scrutinise the response of the Welsh Government and other public bodies to the Covid-19 pandemic so they can be held to account for the decisions they have made.

She also wants to ensure that the voices of older people, their families, friends and care home staff are at the heart of discussions, debate and decisions about the future of residential and wider social care in Wales.

Older People’s Commissioner for Wales, Heléna Herklots CBE, said:“I want to give a voice to older people living in care homes, their family and friends, and care workers throughout Wales so that their experiences can be used to ensure the right action is taken to protect and support people living and working in care homes.

“We’ve already heard a huge amount about the issues and challenges that people living and working in our care homes have experienced in recent months, including issues relating to testing, PPE and access to information and guidance. But we’ve also heard about some of the good things that have been happening that are making a positive difference.

“There has also been huge praise for care home staff for all of their hard work and dedication during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“But I want to hear from even more people living and working in care homes throughout Wales. They are experts by experience and it’s crucial that their voices are heard and are at the centre of discussions and plans about what happens next as we navigate the difficult path ahead of us.”

You can find out more about how to share your experiences on the Commissioner’s website, http://www.olderpeoplewales.com/en/carehomevoices.aspx or call 03442 640670 for more information.