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Elderly Care Home news round-up for 16th May 2012

Number of elderly receiving free home care falls by 11 per cent

16 May 2012

The Telegraph reports that there has been a significant fall in those able to access free home care since the public spending cuts.

It is reported that there has been an 11% fall in the number of elderly or vulnerable people who have their home care paid for by local authorities as well as a large variation in the cost of carer services.  The cost of home care is means tested and the research indicates that 8 out of 10 councils are only offering free home care to people with critical needs.

 

'Treat the elderly as humans, not tasks'

16 May 2012

The Daily Mail reports on the NHS chief who is asking nurses to see the elderly as individuals, not "conditions".

Sir Keith Pearson, chairman of the NHS Confederation, is calling for staff in all hospitals and care homes to treat the elderly with respect and stamp out all poor or undignified care.  Nurses are responding by pointing out that they try to provide the highest levels of care but are often unable to due to staff shortages caused by drastic budget cuts.  

 

UK Care Home Investment – It Will Look After You When You’re Old

16 May 2012

Property investment company Colordarcy.com highlight how UK care homes can make a sound investment for the future.

According to Colordarcy.com care and nursing Homes are the latest emerging asset class to offer a solid hands-free return on investment without the usual hassles of a traditional buy-to-let investment.

 

Read all the latest news on elderly care, care homes and nursing homes at yourcarehome news

 

Elderly Care Home news round-up for 15th May 2012

Elderly care petition could go to Parliament after gaining 130,000 signatures

15 May 2012

The Telegraph reports that over 50 campaigning organisations have signed a petition calling for urgent overhaul of the social care system.

Over 130,000 signatures have been collected by campaigners furious that last week's Queens Speech committed only to a draft bill for social care reform and had no mention on the funding of social care or elderly care. 

 

HMP Channings Wood's care of elderly inmates 'concerning'

15 May 2012

The BBC reports that the elderly inmates at a prison in Devon are not receiving the health care they need.

Inspectors found that there was "significant gaps of coverage" in the care of the elderly at Channings wood prison, with extensive use of locum doctors instead of providing the continuity of a local GP.  Inspectors recommended that money be spent on adapting shower facilities for the elderly and the purchase of other mobility aids. 

 

Martin Lewis: the over-50s plans with a hitch

15 May 2012

In The Telegraph, Martin Lewis considers an insurance plan aimed at the over 50's by Axa Sun Life, payable at time of death.  Lewis concludes that although not completely risk free, (if you die early, you may not have saved the amount you need), a tax-free ISA or top savings account is a safer bet and will bring more peace of mind.

 

read all the latest news on elderly care, care homes and dementia at yourcarehome news

 

Elderly Care Home news round-up for 11th May 2012

Leading article: Time is running out to reform social care

11 May 2012

The Independent calls for the challenge of social care funding to be tackled without delay.

The two major issues are that the current means tested system for social care funding does not work well and is not comprehensive, and that in the next 20 years, the number of elderly needing care and support will increase by a further 2 million.  "The time for excuses" says the Independent, "has run out."

  

Lack of comprehensive social care reform bill is 'unforgivable failure'

11 May 2012

Guardian Professional considers the Queen's Speech and the implications for avoiding the social care reform bill.

Commentator Richard Vize writes that the failure to introduce a comprehensive social care reform bill is "an unforgiveable failure of leadership" on the part of the government. 

 

Thousands of falls in elderly should be prevented: report

11 May 2012

The Telegraph reports that the number of elderly injured or killed by falls could be prevented by coordinating care between the NHS and social services.

Currently, the UK has the largest incidence of hip fractures in Europe, with the majority caused by falls in the elderly.  A falls prevention strategy could reduce the number of falls by up to 30%.

 

For full detail on today's elderly care news, visit yourcarehome news

Elderly Care news round-up for May 08

Elderly care funding should focus on poorest, says Duncan Smith thinktank

08 May 2012

The Guardian reports on think tank recommendations that care funding should target those with few or no assets.  The report, "Transforming Social Care" suggests prioritising those who are most needy, whilst phasing in recommendations made by Dilnot at a later stage.

 

Labour warns Coalition must act now on elderly care

08 May 2012

The Telegraph reports that Labour has threatened to pull out of talks if funding elderly care is not given higher priority.

Despite ordering a commission to look at the future of funding care for the elderly, David Cameron has been criticised by Labour for not taking any further steps to tackle the urgent issue.

 

Why GPs need to be more carer aware

08 May 2012

The Guardian's social care network looks at a scheme to assist GP's to support carers.

Figures suggest that one in ten people are caring for an elderly or disabled relative of friend and research shows that carers are not receiving enough support.  The Carers Trust is launching a programme to help make GP's more aware of identifying and helping carers and ensuring that they have the right support.

 

For more information on today's elderly care home news, visit yourcarehome news

Elderly Care news round-up for May 02

State must pay family carers to look after elderly, say MPs

02 May 2012

The Telegraph reports on the suggestion by MP's that families should receive funding to care for an elderly family member.

A group of Conservative MP’s suggested that the government could save £1.14 billion a year by giving funding to the family of an elderly person requiring care.

 

Alzheimer's nanoscope development grant for University of Limerick

02 May 2012

The BBC reports that researchers have been awarded a 5.4m euro grant for developing technology to screen for Alzheimer's Disease.

It is hoped that this will lead to the ability to screen patients and identify Alzheimer's in it's early stages which is vital for more effective treatment.

 

Exercise and computer games reduce memory problems: research

02 May 2012

The Telegraph reports on research that found computer use and regular exercise for the elderly can help reduce their memory loss.

Alzheimer's Research UK commented that this study supports belief that an active lifestyle can have positive impacts on the brain and the development of dementia.  They added that further research is needed and this area of research needs higher levels of funding urgently.

 

For the full news stories, visit yourcarehome latest news 

Elderly care news round-up for April 30th 2012

Must spend money on crumbling care system, charities warn

30 April 2012

The Daily Telegraph reports that an alliance of 50 charities has called for an urgent overhaul of the way care for the elderly and vulnerable is funded.

The Care and Support Alliance warns of an "urgent and deepening crisis" and urges the government to commit additional budget to the way that social care is funded. 

 

Guy Hands' Terra Firma poised to buy Four Seasons care homes

30 April 2012

The Guardian reports that private equity baron Guy Hands is behind a new deal to take over care home group Four Seasons Health Care, rendering shares in the group practically worthless

Four Seasons is UK's largest care home group, caring for over 25,000 people across 500 care homes

 

25pc more patients forced to remain in hospital beds

30 April 2012

The Daily Telegraph reports that incidents of hospital bed blocking by elderly patients waiting to be discharged to appropriate care facilities has risen by over a quarter in the last 18 months.

Many elderly or vulnerable patients are facing significant delays in hospital as they cannot be discharged until appropriate care has been arranged for them, either at home, in a care home or nursing home, or in a different hospital. 

For todays care news in more detail, visit yourcarehome news

 

Elderly care news round-up for Friday 27th April

LGA: 'Councils from all parties' want elderly care reform

The ITV News reports that local councils across the country have called for the government to reform funding for elderly care immediately or risk a reduction in other local services such as leisure centres, road maintenance and parks.

 

Care home inspector arrested over bribery claims

The Daily Telegraph reports that a woman who worked for the Care Quality Commission as an inspector of care homes has been arrested on suspicion of bribery and money laundering

 

Elderly care funding will force closure of libraries, councils warn

The Daily Telegraph reports on calls from local councils for the government to act immediately on reforms for funding care for the the elderly

A government white paper on care funding was due to be published in December last year, but has been postponed, and council leaders say that unless decisions are taken, the care reform debate will be set back many years and the councils will be forced to fund care that they cannot afford.

 

Cross party talks on elderly care start this week - Let battle commence!

Cross-party talks on the future of elderly care funding begin tomorrow - lets hope they go better than in 2010 when the talks broke down due to major disagreements about Labour's so-called "death tax".  A working group put together by the Dept of Health has recommended that an elderly person should pay up to £60,000 towards their care, as opposed to the £35,000 currently proposed by economist Andrew Dilnot. Should make for a lively discussion.

Sharing homes - could it work?

The Guardian this week looked at a Homeshare project, where students or young people are placed in houseshares with the elderly.  The student will agree to live there and look after the elderly owner (a certain number of hours each week) in return for significantly lower rent.  Housing sorted for the student, care sorted for the owner.  

This is an interesting concept, but as with all live-in care situations, would have to be very carefully regulated to avoid abuse of the system or of the individuals involved.  Whilst the positives are clear (financial and social benefits for both parties), and advice is given about making clear rules from the start (how much care should take place, what form that will take etc), I can see no mention on the Homeshare website about CRB checks or any other checks which take place to minimise potential threat of abuse.  I am in two minds.  Whilst the case studies (across the world) illustrate how the scheme can work, I am left wondering if there are any stories illustrating how the scheme can go wrong...

Funding cuts hit front line services for the elderly - surprise?

The Telegraph reported today that Paul Burstow the care services minister has admitted that cuts in council spending are directly impacting on the elderly, as councils are reducing their nursing and care home budgets by hundreds of millions of pounds.  He is demanding to know why the £2 billion allocated to support adult social care has not reached the front line.  

Well, in light of the fact that councils were already in deep crisis over elderly care and the fact that the elderly are unable to make their views about cuts known by camping out in front of St Pauls, perhaps we should be demanding why this £2 billion wasn't ringfenced in the first place, to ensure that it could not be used to plug gaps in other areas of council spending.

Meanwhile, the Coalition's answer to this dire state of emergency is to promise a white paper setting out really firm plans...next Spring...again...