An influential regional care group today threw its weight behind a national campaign to give older and vulnerable people dignity in the care they receive.

The Independent Care Group (York and North Yorkshire) is supporting Dignity Action Day on 1^st February.

The care group’s chair, Mike Padgham said it was vital that older and vulnerable people were given dignity and respect when they were offered care.

“We should, as a society, be judged by how well we provide care for our older and vulnerable people and giving them dignity and respect is central to that,” he said.

“This is something that is vital in care every day, but Dignity Action Day gives us the opportunity to emphasise how important that message is.”

He said society in general could offer more respect and dignity in the way people treat one another.

“Life is lived at such a pace these days that I often think that something is missing and that is how we treat each other. Dignity Action Day should not only be about how we treat older and vulnerable people but maybe also about how we all treat everyone else,” he added.

He will be reinforcing the message at his own businesses.

This challenge says care services should: have zero tolerance of abuse, support people with the same respect you would want for yourself or a member of your family, treat each person as an individual, enable people to maintain independence, choice and control and listen and support people to express their needs and wants.

Those services should also respect people’s right to privacy, ensure people feel able to complain, engage with family members and carers as care partners, assist people to maintain confidence and positive self-esteem and act to alleviate loneliness and isolation.

For more information on Dignity Action Day visit www.dignityincare.org.uk