Commenting on the publication of the ‘What’s it like to live in a care home?’ report from Healthwatch England, Janet Morrison, Chief Executive of Independent Age, the older people’s charity, said:
“Choosing a care home for yourself or a loved one can be a daunting decision, all too often undermined by huge variations in the quality of care on offer. That’s why we developed eight Quality Indicators as highlighted in the report, spelling out what a good care home should look like which include having staff with time and skills to do their job. While there are some examples of excellent practice, this report suggests poor care is still endemic in some parts of the care system with patients being left high and dry and without proper care and support. Just as worrying, Healthwatch shows how a ‘culture of apathy’ towards the experiences of residents has taken root in some homes. It highlights concern about staff numbers, training and turnover at a time when there is still a lot of uncertainty about the sector’s ability to recruit workers from the EU. The Government must address these issues as it prepares to publish a consultation on social care, although worryingly the timetable for that consultation remains unclear.”