A nationwide Day of Dignity aimed at ensuring people who receive care get the respect to which they are entitled is being given the enthusiastic support of North Yorkshire County Council.
Events being held around the county to mark the Day - 1 February - include library displays, entertainment in residential homes and the creation of a Dignity Garden.
Dignity Action Day is designed to raise awareness of the Dignity in Care campaign, launched in 2006 with the object of changing the culture of care
services and placing a greater emphasis on improving the quality of care and the experience of people who use community services, care homes, home care and all the other services offered by local authorities and the NHS to help people in need of care and support.
County Councillor Clare Wood, executive member for adult social care services, said: "Dignity Action Day in North Yorkshire will be marked enthusiastically with a number of events across the county. They will be a mix of entertainment and information - but whatever they are, their fundamental message will be the same: all adults should be able to live free from fear and harm, and have their rights and choices respected.
"In North Yorkshire, we operate a zero tolerance to all forms of abuse. Our view is that doing nothing is not an option - and whenever abuse is suspected, we immediately take action. That is coupled with the philosophy behind the Dignity in Care campaign - to ensure people in care are treated as individuals, and are given choice, control and a sense of purpose in their daily lives."
The theme of this year's Dignity Action Day is "Taking the time to ...", and the idea is that people will fill in the missing words by making pledges to help ensure dignity and respect. Suggestions include making a dignity pledge (which could be as simple as a pledge to help older neighbours in cold weather) or signing up to be a Dignity Champion.
Dignity Action Day asks health and social care workers to take action in their place of work to promote dignity. It also asks members of the public to do what they can to take action on this day to promote dignity for people in their communities.
Events in North Yorkshire include displays with social care staff present in libraries, including Whitby, Scalby, Harrogate, Skipton, Northallerton and Catterick .
In Catterick library there will be a display made by people who access support, about their lives, and there will be events celebrating Dignity in Care in care establishments including, at Hill View Manor in Knaresborough, a Middle Eastern Experience.
At Benkhill Lodge, Bedale, events will include a spa morning, a bake-off in which staff will help residents to prepare their favourite recipes over the preceding few days, then judging on afternoon of Dignity Action Day. Residents will also be making a Dignity Garden in front of Benkhill Lodge, and they will be creating a Dignity Clock (Giving the Gift of Time). Staff and residents will write what Dignity means to them, and this will be used to make the clock.
Activities at Larpool Lane, Whitby, include a memories evening with family and friends, using photos and familiar objects.
Other examples are entertainment including a 1950s' singer, afternoon tea, a coffee morning with crafts, a race day with hat-making, a "back to your roots" event and dignity displays created by people who access support.
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