Undercover Which? investigation shows some care homes in the UK have problems delivering adequate food and health and safety to their residents
Residents in some care homes in England are inadequately fed and under-stimulated, an undercover investigation by Which? has found.
As part of the consumer rights group's Care homes investigated report, undercover actors posed as residents in four care homes in England earlier this year and found major problems with food, health and safety, and a worrying lack of activity for residents.
In the most extreme case, a member of staff was witnessed dragging a resident towards the toilet by one arm, while another was repeatedly pushed back down into their chair by the head and shoulders when trying to stand up. Which? reported this to the health and social care regulator, the Care Quality Commission (CQC), which suspended admissions to the home immediately.
The care homes were selected at random by Which? ? one had previously been rated as poor by the CQC, two were deemed satisfactory, and one had been rated good ? and the actors' resulting diaries were analysed by a panel including an expert in inspection, an expert in activity and daily living, and a dietician.
The results reveal that food in two of the care homes was unappetising and inadequate, and in one home experts found evidence of sub-standard portion sizes and inadequate calories or protein. One researcher reported a half-stone (7lb) weight loss in a single week.
In three homes, residents sometimes had to wait 16 or 17 hours between dinner and breakfast without food, and in one home lunch was served just 1.5 hours after breakfast at 10am. For dinner one researcher was served a small sandwich and a chocolate-covered ice cream, despite them previously stating they didn't eat chocolate.
There was a worrying lack of activity in all four homes. In one, residents constantly said they were bored, and in another not one of the advertised daily activities (including exercise, a quiz and a singing session) took place.
According to the National Association for Providers of Activities for Older People inactive residents are more likely to have urine infections or constipation, lose muscle strength, and be less likely to eat and sleep well. Prolonged inactivity is also more likely to leave a resident restless and agitated, or withdrawn and depressed.
Health and safety concerns were raised in two care homes which featured damp, dirty facilities, exposed wires and a blocked fire escape.
'Good quality care is patchy'
A CQC spokesman said the Which? report featured a tiny sample and there was no evidence that what the consumer rights group found was endemic across the country. She said care homes are assessed for risk and unnannounced visits take place regularly.
Age UK estimates that in 2009 there were about 398,000 older people out a total of 419,000 people in residential care in the UK.
Dame Jo Williams, chair of the CGC, said: "The evidence Which? shared with us describes care that falls below what people using social care services have a right to expect ? in one case so seriously that we acted immediately to ensure admissions to the home were suspended, and are now considering the best action for residents currently living there.
"CQC listens to the views and experience of people who use services and look at what data tells us in order to identify possible risks, then reviews and inspects services. Seeing for ourselves what is going on in care homes is a key part of our regulatory regime ? and almost all of our visits are unannounced. Where necessary, we require improvements against clear timescales or take enforcement action, following up to ensure these improvements have been delivered."
Michelle Mitchell, charity director at Age UK, said: "I am saddened that yet again research shows many care homes are failing to provide a good standard of care. While there is evidence of good quality care, it is too patchy. Care homes should be places of safety, warmth, activity and happiness, and this research shows that some are falling short of this ambition.
"Improving poor care is not rocket science. It comes down to how people are treated when they are at their frailest, and often a warm word or extra time spent in chatting or helping can make all the difference. In instances of serious breaches of regulation we are pleased that CQC is taking action. It is vital the regulator seeks out similar examples of poor practice in all care homes and acts quickly to improve services."
Williams said that while regulation sets essential standards and enables providers to be held to account, the primary responsibility for quality and safety "rests with providers and the staff who work for them".
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2011/apr/19/care-homes-sub-standard-practices
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