Assembly Member for Mid and West Wales JOYCE WATSON AM is backing Breath Of Fresh Air Week (16 - 22 Jun 2008), encouraging care homes and sheltered housing schemes to offer some fresh air to every single resident or tenant at some point during this week.
JOYCE WATSON AM said:
"For some older people in care homes, stepping out of the door is a rare event.
"We all know the benefits of a healthy lifestyle, yet too often, in an effort to keep people warm and cosy, care homes forget the simple value of stepping outdoors.
"Getting outside provides vital access to natural light, physical exercise, variety and stimulation which are essential to physical and psychological health and wellbeing.
"It is shocking that in one care home, a manager reported that when she first took over the running of the home, none of the residents had outside shoes because it was not considered a possibility that people might want or need to leave the home.
"If you are a prisoner, you have a legal entitlement to one hour's exercise and fresh air on a daily basis. Care home residents or sheltered housing tenants have no such right.
"I know of many excellent care homes across Mid and West Wales which organise a wide range of activities for their residents.
"This competition is a positive initiative which will encourage good practice, and can only be good news for these vulnerable residents."
17th June 2008
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