Publications for older people and their carers

Supported by the Department of Health, the Care Home Handbook provides vital information for anyone considering care in a care home and for people who are exploring options on behalf of someone care for. The Care Home Handbook sets out clearly the rights that a person has, the choices they can make depending on their situation, and the control and independence they should be able to retain throughout the process. It guides the reader through the different options available for funding care and gives advice on how to choose a care home that suits a person's individual needs.

The report, 'Campaigning for Quality Care in Care Homes', calls on the new commission on long-term care to consider how to radically improve the quality of care as well as how the care system will be funded in the future. Pamela Wells, the author of the report and a former carer, said that during her research for the report she interviewed carers, former carers, visitors to care homes, care workers and day centre staff. She was shocked to find her own experience being reaffirmed through the witness of others' experience and learned that there was an appalling lack of care of older and vulnerable older in far too many care homes.

Counsel and Care has published VotingAge, an older people's manifesto. The manifesto includes forewords from the leaders of all three main political parties.

VotingAge was a consultation run by Counsel and Care - together with a leadership group made up mostly of older people - to identify the issues that affect older people's lives, and seek pledges from all three parties that the particular needs of older people will be in their general election manifestos. The findings of the consultation were presented to politicians and delegates at all the 2008 party conferences.