Forum Brief: Care homes

The Department of Health has announced a relaxation in the standards required of care homes.

In a move seen as an admission of government failure to address the lack of provision in the care home sector, the government decided to loosen regulation on national minimum standards, especially with regard to environmental quality.

Health minister Jacqui Smith stressed that the changes would not adversely affect patients.

Forum Brief: Help the Aged

Annie Stevenson, senior policy adviser for Help the Aged, said: "Help the Aged is appalled that the government is undermining the whole issue of standards in residential care, by backtracking on its own regulations for room sizes, availability of single rooms and number of lifts and baths.

"The nub of the care home crisis lies in the government own refusal to fund social care to meet older peoples' needs.

"The real people who will lose as a result of the government U turn are older people themselves.

"Help the Aged believes that all older people, regardless of their income, should have the right to live in room of their own, with space for visitors and some of their personal possessions. No older person should ever have to be expected to share a room with a complete stranger.

"Help the Aged is calling for a fundamental review of the funding of social care, to stabilise the care home sector without compromising on residents quality of care or physical environment."

Forum Brief: Voice UK

Peter Raine, chairman of Voice UK, told ePolitix.com: "Voice UK notes the government action to relax the standards required of care homes.

"It is felt that this is a realistic acceptance of the current position and does agree with comments that the enforcement of new increased standards would exacerbate the current shortage of suitable care home places.

"Voice UK does, however, believe that the proposed improvement in standards is important to the well being of the residents and considers that urgent action should be taken by government to address funding shortfalls affecting local authorities ability to meet realistic fee levels for residential care.

"Voice UK urges action to assess the proper funding levels applicable to residential care to enable the highest possible standards to be delivered and maintained. Fining local authorities would seem to be an inappropriate, and counter productive response to the serious issue of bed blocking.

"Consideration should also be given to the level of home care required to be provided by local authorities because of the inability of the NHS to provide medical treatment before intensive home care is needed.

"It is recognised that this is a 'Catch 22' situation but the problem must be addressed overall. Proper care can only be provided when residents physical, emotional and social needs are met in an environment that is stimulating and safe.

"Local authorities have a role to play in insisting that homes to which residents are recommended are safe and stimulating and that realistic pricing levels ensure the continuity of care necessary for the well being of the residents.

"Above all, Voice UK reiterates the need for the highest possible care standards and regrets the increasing rate of closure of residential units that have often maintained good standards."

"In response to comments on ePolitix.com Forum, we at the Department of Health maintain we listened to care home owners, residents and their relatives about the national minimum standards. We want good care homes to carry on providing a valuable service - vulnerable and older people should not have to worry about how their home will meet the costs of some of the more challenging standards.

"Many of these standards did not have to be met until 2007. Nevertheless, we recognised that care home owners and residents were worried that homes would have to close if the costs could not be met.

"Now many of these environmental standards, which included the room sizes and doors, availability of single rooms and the number of lifts and baths have been relaxed. Care homes can now concentrate on meeting the remaining standards and providing a better quality of care for older and vulnerable people."