A rights-based approach for older people in long-term care The European WeDO experience by Maude...

A rights-based approach for older

people in long-term care

The European WeDO experience

by Maude Luherne, Policy and projects officer

3 April 2014, UN Social forum Geneva

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AGE Platform Europe at a glance

• Set up in 2001, Social NGO with Belgian Statutes

• European Network with about 160 Member Organisations

• Represents directly over 30 million older people

• Aims to voice and defend the interests of older people and to raise awareness on the issues that concern them

• Co-financed by a grant of the EU (DG Justice) and by its members

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What do we mean by ‘long-term care’?

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Long-term care in the EU

Definition (WeDO quality framework for long-term care services)

“They need to encompass prevention, rehabilitation and enablement, cure and care, including end-of-life care. They combine health and social care for activities of daily living (ADL) such as eating, bathing, dressing, grooming, housekeeping, and leisure. They also cover the “instrumental activities of daily living (IADL)” such as managing one’s finances, shopping, using the telephone, transportation, and in some countries other activities such as taking medication. They can be delivered in various settings spanning the continuum from the beneficiary’s home to intermediate care and (semi-) residential facilities.”

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Long-term care in the EU

- Very diverse situations in the EU countries

• We face the same challenges:

- ‘Silos’ approach between health and social care impacting on the objective of person-centred care and support (different funding, administrations, sources of information)

- Financial pressure on care systems and on older persons’ incomes (1/5 older person at risk of poverty), added to lack of adapted environments, risks of social isolation, etc.

- Lack of support to informal carers, lack of recognition of professional care work

- Quality: what can I expect from the service I receive, what are my rights?

- Lack of adequate support to persons with dementia

- Prevention and fight against elder abuse

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A right to long-term care?

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A vision for long-term care in Europe

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EUSTaCEA2008-2010

European Charter of the rights and responsibilities of older people in need of long-term care and assistance

10 articles: 9 rights, 1 responsibility

+ Accompanying guide

- Translated into 9 languages

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The EUSTACEA project9

The EUSTACEA project10

WeDO (2010 - 2012)

European Quality framework for long-term care services

- Translated into 11 languages

- 11 quality principles and 7 areas of action

- Case examples and good practices

- Methodology for a participatory approach

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11 ‘Quality principles’, a quality service should be:

•Respectful of human rights and dignity

•Person-centred

•Preventive and rehabilitative

•Available

•Accessible

•Affordable

•Comprehensive

•Continuous

•Outcome-oriented and evidence based

•Transparent

•Gender and culture sensitive

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7 ‘areas of action’, a quality service should contribute to:

•Preventing and fighting elder abuse and neglect

•Ensuring good working conditions and working environment and

investing in human capital

•Empowering older people in need of care and create opportunities for

participation

•Developing adequate physical infrastructure

•Developing a partnership approach

•Developing a system of good governance

•Developing an adequate communication and awareness-raising

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The vision

• A rights-based approach to care

European Charter of the rights and responsibilities of older people in need of long-term care and assistance

• Age-friendly environments and active ageing concepts as key to drive change

WHO age friendly cities and participatory approach

• Integrated response to care and person-centred approach

Multi-stakeholders approach

• Crucial role of informal carers and need to support them

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A European movement

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What can WeDO?

- The WeDO partnership, informal network (EU and national coalitions) in 16 countries

- WeDO2 project (2013-2015) developing training tools

- Inspire EU coordination, inspire national and local stakeholders

- Easily transferable

- www.wedo-partnership.eu

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Thank you for your attention!

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AGE Platform EuropeRue Froissart 1111040 Bruxelles – Belgique

Contact person: Maude LuherneE-mail: maude.luherne@age-platform.eu tel. : +32.2.280.14.70fax : +32.2.280.15.22www.age-platform.eu Register to our newsletter Coverage!