care homes

Southern Cross Healthcare operate 710 care homes in the UK. They’re keen to trumpet their commitment to eradicating abuse of the elderly. They’re key contributors to this campaign, launched by Action on Elder Abuse.

John Murphy, Chief Operating Officer commented on behalf of Southern Cross Healthcare, ‘Our commitment has been unwavering to protect people and staff in our care. We continually strive to improve our provision of training to raise awareness and welcomed the launch of the Dignity in Care Campaign in November 2006 as it clearly reinforced the need to continually highlight that indignity in health and social care must be eliminated. We are proud to be part of this unique pilot helpline project and have the full support of our stakeholders – our staff, our services users and their friends and families”

Since they’re so keen on treating people in care with dignity, they might be horrified by this court ruling.
Read the rest of this entry »

The Alzheimers Society has called for compulsory training in dementia care for all people working in care homes.  It found that residents were sedated, unstimulated and with basic hygiene needs, such as having their teeth brushed, left unmet.

The society, which wants training in dementia care to be mandatory, argues that, under the current system, poorly-paid 16 and 17-year-olds are being asked to enter homes with minimal experience and manage people “with very serious conditions”.

“There needs to be a serious rise in expectations as to standards of care both relatives and residents can hope for,” said Andrew Chidgey, head of policy and campaigns at the Alzheimer’s
Society.

The government has promised a “new strategy”.  I shudder to think.