Disabled and older people deserve the same dignity and respect as everyone

The way we treat one another is the best indication of how compassionate and progressive society is. This is especially true in moments of crisis. As we reflect on decisions made in 2020 and look ahead to the New Year, it is critical we take action to demonstrate how much we value the lives of people in care homes.

Earlier this year we worked with the Mental Welfare Commission to stop people who are medically ready to leave hospital, but unable to make personal decisions, from being moved to locked care placements without legal authority. We still hear stories about the restrictions under which care home residents are living.

We have heard of people being confined to their rooms, “do not attempt resuscitation” orders being applied without discussion with residents or their families, Covid-19 positive and untested patients transferred from hospitals to care homes and blanket bans on visits from loved ones.

Protecting lives while preserving the quality of lives is so important and we believe more can be done to ensure decisions are based on the needs of people as individuals.

Care homes are where people live. They are not, and should not be treated as, clinical settings. We must also remember care home workers have themselves been traumatised as they have seen the people they care for suffer.

We made recommendations to help the NHS, the Scottish Government, local authorities, and care providers to make difficult decisions and protect those we care about. We ask them to place equality at the heart of decisionmaking. Disabled and older people must be treated with dignity and respect, and their quality of life must not be overlooked.

Equality is not a “nice-to-have” addition to decision making. It is a legal requirement and a critical element of all decisions that affect people’s lives. The commission will follow up with all those bodies we have made recommendations to and expect to see improvement as a matter of urgency.