The EUSTACEA Project What future for the rights and responsibilities of older people in need of long-term care and assistance? Thursday 9 December

o 47% of Europeans are of the view that elder abuse is widespread (2008 Eurobarometer on long-term care services) o European Council work of successive presidencies (Czech Republic, Sweden) on Dignity in care and healthy ageing. o Social Protection committee work on Quality in Social Services (October 2010) o European Commission conference on elder abuse in March 2008 – Financing of Pilot projects on elder abuse (EUROPEAN, MILCEA) in 2009 and o European Parliament resolution on « long-term care for older people » 2 Elder abuse: a European concern

Challenges o Lack of autonomy does not mean a loss of the rights : “As you grow older and may come to depend on others for support and care, you continue to have the right to…” o Better voice the needs and expectations of older care recipients in long-term care settings o Promote older people’s well being at home and in institution o Ensure high-quality care by involving a wide range of stakeholders 3

The EUSTACEA project 4 The European Charter of the rights and responsibilities of older people in need of long-term care and assistance

The EUSTACEA project 5 Ten articles Art. 1: Right to dignity, physical and mental well-being, freedom and security Art. 2: Right to self-determination Art.3: Right to privacy Art. 4: Right to high quality and tailored care Art. 5: Right to personalized information, advice and consent The European Charter of the rights and responsibilities of older people in need of long-term care and assistance

The EUSTACEA project 6 Art. 6: Right to continued communication, participation in society and cultural activity Art. 7: Right to freedom of expression and freedom of thought/conscience: beliefs, culture and religion Art. 8: Right to palliative care and support, and respect and dignity in dying and in death Art. 9: Right to redress Art. 10: Your responsibilities The European Charter of the rights and responsibilities of older people in need of long-term care and assistance

The EUSTACEA project 7 Implement Art. 25 of the EU Charter of fundamental rights: “The Union recognises and respects the rights of the elderly to lead a life of dignity and independence and to participate in social and cultural life.” The “Charter of the rights and responsibilities of older people in need of long-term care and assistance” gives information to all stakeholders on what are the minimum needs and expectations of the care recipients The European Charter of the rights and responsibilities of older people in need of long-term care and assistance

The EUSTACEA project 8 Small changes can have great impact on quality Mentality change: a care home is at first the living place of care recipients Quality is a process developed thanks to a cooperation and a mutual understanding between a large variety of stakeholders The accompanying guide: Supporting the Charter’s implementation

The next steps 9 Aim : implement the European Charter and adapt the voluntary European Quality framework for Social Services of General Interest to Long-term care services. Two outcomes: voluntary European Quality Framework for LTC (a set of common principles) and a European Partnership Guide which will include recommendations for the development of quality development, control and labelling tools based on those principles (in the same idea as Age-friendly cities WHO program). The European Partnership for the wellbeing and dignity of older people

The next steps 10 Run from 1st December 2010 to the 30th November partners from 12 different countries (Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Czech Republic, Finland, Slovenia, Italy, Austria, Greece, Netherlands, Sweden) A wide variety of stakeholders: Older people’s organisations, service providers, trade unions, local and national public authorities, etc. Development of 12 national coalitions and 1 european coalition working on strategies to improve the well being and dignity of older people 8 steering committee meetings, national coalitions meetings and 3 EU events during the two years The European Partnership for the wellbeing and dignity of older people

For more information: AGE Platform Europe Rue Froissart Bruxelles – Belgique Contact person: Maude LUHERNE, Project coordinator tel. : fax :