A quarter of homecare services – where the elderly get help getting into and out of bed, washing, dressing and eating – failed to meet quality and safety standards, the health regulator says.
In a review of 250 services, the Care Quality Commission found evidence that providers had missed calls, many staff did not understand whistleblowing procedures about abuse and nurses turned up late to provide care.
More than 700,000 people above the age of 65 rely on home help and campaigners warned the system was becoming stretched in an age of austerity.
Interviewed by the regulator, the elderly spoke of a lack of continuity of care. “We found one instance where a person had received 13 different care workers for 35 calls,” the report says.
The result was that many expressed “frustration when they felt that they regularly had to explain to different care workers how they liked things to be done”.
In another instance, the CQC report says some found new staff sent to care for them were “rude” and “pushy”.
The report comes after the coalition government announced plans for a £75,000 cap on the amount the elderly will have to pay for social care in England.
David Behan, the chief executive of the CQC, said: “People have a right to expect to be treated as an individual, to be able to exercise choice, and to make sure their carers are aware of their specific care needs. We found evidence of this. However, we also found elements of poor care which happen too often.”
Campaigners said the report was a “wakeup call”. Michelle Mitchell, charity director general at Age UK, said: “Funding pressures are resulting in many committed care workers becoming overstretched, with staff forced to choose between rushed visits or leaving early without being able to finish tasks, which can have a devastating effect on older people who rely on these services.”
A spokesperson for the Alzheimer’s Society said having “good quality homecare prevents people reaching crisis point and going into hospital unnecessarily or care homes early” – thereby saving the state from bigger bills later.
“Half a million people with dementia live in the community and as the brain gradually shuts down many will need help with everyday tasks such as eating meals, washing or going to the toilet. However, patchy quality means that some people are being forced to struggle with poor and in some cases undignified care,” the spokesperson said.
The CQC said homecare providers – largely private companies – had to work closely with local authorities to remedy the problems.
The regulator warned the problems identified could have a “significant impact” on the elderly, many of whom did not complain because of a fear of reprisals or loyalty to their carer.
The findings come after reports by both the consumer group Which? and the Equality and Human Rights Commission have criticised homecare in the past 18 months.
Source: www.guardian.co.uk