Paying For Care

Dementia patient care home standards criticised

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:07:00 GMT

A care home owner has urged the Government to improve the quality of life for dementia sufferers by making dementia-friendly design compulsory across the care sector.

John Fisher, who runs Esk Hall Care Home in Sleights, North Yorkshire, believes the Government's recently published Care Bill does not go far enough to drive up standards for the 800,000 people in the UK living with dementia.

He told the Whitby Gazette: "There are 322,000 people with dementia living in care homes and according to research from the Alzheimer's Society fewer than half of them enjoy a good quality of life. That's a shocking statistic, when there are simple ways to create living environments geared to their very specific needs."

Mr Fisher, who is one of the joint partners behind a new 50-bed care home being built on Waterstead Lane in Whitby, made his comments to mark national Dementia Awareness Week.

He said research shows there is a lot that can be done to help people cope better with the condition, especially when they lose the ability to make sense of their surroundings.

Providing good care based around individual needs is not about simply making sure people are warm enough and fed an adequate diet, he stressed. He is concerned that because the Dementia Week research shows many people have low expectations of care homes, they are settling for average care when they should not have to.

"People living in care homes have the right to live safe, happy lives and so much more can be done if there is the will to do it," he said. "But driving standards up throughout the care industry means applying legislation and I am concerned that the recent Care Bill, which simply asks care homes to sign up to the Dementia Care and Support Compact, does not go far enough when it comes to caring for people with dementia."

Care-cost hikes 'bad deal' for Glasgow

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:06:00 GMT

Glasgow City Council's leader has said it is not in the city's interests to hike care home and nursing care costs.

Gordon Matheson attacked plans to do so, as Glasgow's councillors "reluctantly" gave the go-ahead to the increases.

The rises come after discussions between care providers, local government body Cosla and the Scottish Government.

Mr Matheson said: "It's a challenging agreement that's been reached. Bluntly, I don't think that the national agreement works in Glasgow's interests."

He added that the council had argued against the plans at Cosla, but were out-voted. Mr Matheson said councillors must put lots of work into the reform process, and that he looks forward to hearing the outcome of those talks "because we can not go on like this".

It is expected that the hikes will cost the city council a further £2.4 million every year. However, it has been noted that a "contribution" from Scottish Government will cut the figure to about £2 million.

Glasgow City Council had said that a 12% rise in care home fees had been seen over the last five years. This means the social work department has had to spend £10 million on covering the increases while having their budget cut by £80 million overall during the same period.

Following the meeting, the council leader said that in the city there are 500 empty beds in care homes, and that "it should be a buyer's market where we can drive prices down".

He said the deal gives a further rise to care homes in the private sector at a time when all other areas of social care are suffering with budget pressure.

"When added to the concerns we already have on how parts of the private care home system is performing, this amounts to a bad deal for Glasgow," Mr Matheson added.

"The deal may work for other parts of the country, but it takes no account of conditions in Glasgow. As a member of Cosla we will honour this agreement, but cannot blindly accept a further £2 million impact on an already reducing budget."

He added that individuals will still be offered an appropriate service once their needs have been assessed but that the council will be funding fewer beds in care homes over the next year.

Mr Matheson said this will impact on delayed discharge from hospital care. He added: "There is an urgent need for overall reform to the adult residential care sector."

Care home probed amid complaints

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:05:00 GMT

Concerns over a Reading care home's standards have seen the town's borough council stop placing people at the site.

A number of complaints in a short space of time over the River View Care Centre in Tilehurst had sparked a probe by the Care Quality Commission. The centre in Rodway Road is run by Life Style Care Plc.

The independent regulator will shortly prepare a report after making a spot-check of the facility, which houses 137 people aged 65 and over and was purpose-built to help people with dementia or physical disabilities. The previous report by the watchdog dating from September 28 found that the home met all standards of care.

The Reading Post reported that a spokesman for the council, Oscar Mortali, said: "The council took the decision on March 26 to temporarily stop placing people in River View Care Home. This followed a number of safeguarding referrals made to the council in a short period of time about the care home."

Adding that "the council will always act quickly on information", he said: "Our immediate priority in these circumstances is to ensure the safety of residents at the care home."

And he said: "A monitoring team carried out a number of assessments at River View Care Home at the time to ensure that residents were safe and the council is continuing to visit and monitor the care given to residents at the home.

"The council is clear that it will not re-introduce admissions to River View Care Home until it is completely satisfied that River View management has taken all necessary actions coming out of the CQC inspection. In the interim period, an action plan has been developed by River View management who have carried out their own review and have fed back regularly to the council."

Long-term care reform branded a 'con trick'

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:04:00 GMT

Government reforms aimed at ensuring older people don't have to sell their homes to pay for their long-term care have been branded a "con trick".

Liz Kendall, Labour's care spokeswoman and shadow cabinet member, said it is "plainly obvious families will face losing even more of their homes than they do now".

Kendall said government claims of limiting social care costs to £72,000 were untrue.

She said that most elderly people in care homes will pass away long before they ever reach the cap.

Kendall, a renowned social care expert who sat in on the cross-party talks, said: "Families deserve to be told the facts so they can properly plan for the future, and not have the Government attempt to pull the wool over their eyes."

The politician, breaking with the cross-party consensus over the so-called "Dilnot cap" for social care, made the claim after studying the new plans.

At the heart of the reform, said Kendall, was that the cap only applied to care payments at council rates.

Local councils will pay around £500 a week for residential care and "hotel costs", mainly food and accommodation, when the cap takes effect in 2016.

Hotel costs are restricted to £12,500 a year or £240 a week, leaving £260 for care costs.

At this rate it would take around five years to reach the £72,000 cap, at which point the Government will step in and pay the weekly £260 as a care subsidy.

But this is roughly double the average stay in a care home.

Anyone paying more than the local council level will have to pay the extra themselves, before and after the cap is reached. This won't count towards the £72,000.

Kendall claimed that this will impact "125,000 people who fund their own care fully and pay on average between £50 to £140 more".

In the Commons, she warned Conservative MPs that they would offer a "false prospectus" to their voters, especially in the south and east of England.

Kendall said: "Government members should take heed of that point, because if they tell their constituents that there will be a finite cap on their care costs, they will be sorely disappointed."

A Coalition spokesman said: "Labour had waited years to do something about social care and did very little. In government we are implementing the Dilnot cap."

Plans to integrate health and social care

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:02:00 GMT

Plans to integrate health and social care have been announced by the Government.

Care and support minister Norman Lamb said a "joined up" system would improve communication and reduce the number of older people facing "long waits" in hospital before being discharged.

He also said that improved co-ordination would enable patients to pass through the health and social care system more efficiently without having to report the same problems to different professionals, services and departments.

The minister, who announced the plans at an event organised by the King's Fund think tank, said the integration of services should be completed by 2018.

He added that better communication would mean fewer patients would experience problems such as being discharged from hospital to homes that are not adapted to their needs and deteriorating in health as a result.

He said: "People don't want health care or social care, they just want the best care. This is a vital step in creating a truly joined up system that puts people first."

Michelle Mitchell, charity director general of Age UK, said: "We are very worried that the growing crisis in social care is having a significant impact on the length of time that older people are having to stay in hospital waiting for social care support to be put in place.

"The steep rise in the length of time people are waiting for a care home place, home care or adaptations - significantly above the general rise in delayed discharge waits - suggests that something has gone seriously wrong in the transition from hospital to home or residential care during the time when we know social care spending has fallen dramatically.

"We need the Care Support Bill to be twinned with both an emergency injection of funds to shore up the current system and a long-term commitment to finding sufficient resources to make sure that every older person gets the care they need, when they need it."

Changes to care could save £1.57m a year

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:01:00 GMT

Changes to care provision in Bradford could see 2,000 people who currently receive help having the service removed as part of a cost cutting exercise.

The Bradford Telegraph and Argus reports that changes to the Fair Access to Care guidelines would see the threshold moved so that those with 'moderate' needs are no long eligible for help. Only those classed as having 'substantial' or 'critical' needs would receive the care under the new plan, which is in consultation at the moment. It is thought the changes would save £1.57 million a year.

The council says that if the changes are not made, the authority would have to find an extra £16 million by 2021 to fund the service, which is being put under increasing pressure by the ageing population.

Those that would lose out under the new proposals include 788 people aged 18 to 64 and 1,290 aged 65 or over.

Janice Simpson, strategic director of adult community services at Bradford Council, said: "We have had to take out in the region of £80 million from the budget over the last couple of years and we have to have conversations with the people of Bradford on how they want their money to be spent.

"If the numbers of elderly and those with disabilities continue to rise in the way we think they will, we are not going to be able to meet that demand at the current level within our existing resources. If we continue to spend at current levels, with our demographic increase we are anticipating by 2021 we will have to find an additional £16 million to fund FACS. It will save around £1.5 million a year (moving the benchmark), but the main issue is managing the future demand."

The proposals have attracted some criticism, especially from Liberal Democrat councillor Jeanette Sunderland, who wants the threshold to remain as it is.

But Mrs Simpson said that while she understood councillor Sunderland's concerns, the council had to address the way public money should be spent. She said that if the move goes ahead, more would be invested in preventative services and the voluntary sector.

The consultation will run until August , with the proposal to go before the council's executive in September.

Social care funding outlook 'bleak'

Thu, 09 May 2013 11:17:00 GMT

The social care funding picture is set to become "even bleaker" over the next two years, a survey by the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) on budgets indicates.

The research suggested that plans by the association's members to save £800 million over the next year will affect services provided to older people and people with disabilities. A total of £2.68 billion will have been cut from the adult social care budget between 2011 and 2014.

ADASS president Sandie Keene said more cost-effective packages of care would be provided to many elderly or disabled people.

The survey shows 13% of the proposed cutbacks - £104 million - will lead to the direct withdrawal of services.

Mrs Keene said that without extra investment on top of what has already been pledged, "an already bleak outlook becomes even bleaker".

"Directors everywhere are well aware of the difficult economic choices the country is facing and having to make. And we are well aware of the enormous help given to our departments by inward transfers of NHS funds," she said.

"Social services departments, too, have gone many an extra mile to make their services more efficient although, as our survey shows, these efficiencies are sometimes nowhere near so 'painless' as they sometimes seem."

The research was carried out last month, with 145 of the 152 top-tier social services authorities in England taking part.

Almost a third of directors reported fewer people could access services, while almost half said providers face financial worries.

While 5% of directors felt the quality of life for service users had worsened, 86% had not noticed a change. When asked whether quality of life would diminish over the next two years, 55% said no and 19% said yes.

Half of ADASS members believe fewer people will have access to adult social care services in 24 months, while 57% expect providers to face more financial problems and 42% predict greater legal challenges.

Government to ease carers burden

Tue, 07 May 2013 12:10:00 GMT

The Queen's Speech is set to reward carers with reforms giving them stronger rights to seek financial and practical help when looking after loved ones, it has been reported.

To ease the funding burden linked to care costs, the estimated seven million people who actively support relatives will receive help in adapting their own homes, and will also receive a statutory right to request professional back-up, according to The Independent. To cover these costs around, £150 million will be allocated by the Government, and local councils will be required to justify why they have rejected recent applications, amid their own worries over social care budgets. But as a government source told the Independent: "This would be the very first time that carers will be given the same right to support as the person they look after."

The list of changes are contained within the Health and Social Care Bill, which will also include a cap on bills for long-term care in old age. As a result of the Winterbourne View scandal, legislation is also expected to allow the prosecution of care home managers who fail to pass on abuse complaints.

Other reforms among the Government's legislative programme, details of which emerged over the weekend, include a change to pension rules, which will end the right of a person to claim retirement-age payments, based on the National Insurance contributions of a spouse. A growing problem is the number of foreign spouses of British citizens living overseas, claiming a pension even though they "never put a penny" into the system, according to pensions minister Steve Webb. The focus on overseas' claims has prompted suggestions that the Government is using the Queen's Speech to fight off the growing threat of the UK Independence Party to the electorate, particularly as there are eight times as many such claims in Britain.

New claims at home and abroad will be barred from 2016, so existing pensioners will be unaffected. This significant overhaul of the system will also see the introduction of a single-tier pension, worth around £144 a week.

Western Health Trust may close care homes

Fri, 03 May 2013 13:16:00 GMT

It has emerged that the Western Health Trust is proposing to close all its residential care homes, although no official confirmation has yet been given.

Both the Northern and Southern health trusts have already announced plans to close the homes they run over the next few years.

Four homes would close if the Western Health Trust proposals came to fruition, meaning the loss of 130 places overall, although only 73 men and women live in them at present.

Under threat are Rectory Field and Willow Street, both Londonderry, and Thackeray Place in Limavady and Strabane's Green Field.

Some residents have lived in the homes for several years, just like Josie McCann's mother who is 99 and resides in Thackeray.

"The care they get in there is unbelievable," she said, speaking to the BBC. "The staff are fantastic, every last one of them."

"I honestly believe that if my mother was moved from there, it would kill her."

Ms McCann, who declared it was her mum's home and no-one had the right to take if off her, revealed she had heard the news about the possible closures from a journalist.

When asked about what she would say to health minister Edwin Poots, she replied: "Do you care, do you really care, minister?"

Mr Poots announced in February that over 50% of residential homes would close under government plans. However, that figure is looking like it will be closer to 100% following announcements over the past week.

"I would like the last months, or years, if she would even have years, to be spent in peace," added Ms McCann. "Can you imagine the stress it is going to cause to an old lady of that age?"

Officials at Western Health Trust were expected to brief residents and their families in Thackeray on Tuesday evening, while Sue Ramsey, chair of the Northern Ireland Assembly's Health Committee, called on the health minister to take a firmer line with trusts on the issue of residential care homes.

Too many stroke survivors feel abandoned

Thu, 02 May 2013 13:48:00 GMT

Better social care is needed to stop stroke survivors feeling "abandoned", according to a charity's new report.

The report by the Stroke Association claims social care and health services often underestimate or overlook the emotional strain that strokes can have on patients and their families when they return home.

The charity's poll of 2,700 people who had survived a stroke found that more than two-fifths (42%) felt abandoned when they got back home. Almost three-fifths (59%) of those surveyed said they felt depressed, with two-thirds saying they had experienced anxiety as a result of their stroke.

However, despite those experiences, almost four-fifths said they had not been given any information, support or practical advice on how to cope with the emotional effects of their stroke.

Professor Reg Morris, clinical psychologist at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, said depression, anxiety and fear of another stroke are common, with strokes leaving some patients, in the most extreme cases, feeling suicidal.

He said a better recognition of the emotional effects by social care professionals is vital to improving the long-term care and support for survivors and their families. He added: "We know that with the right emotional, psychological and physical care more stroke survivors will have the opportunity to make their best possible recovery."

The Stroke Association's chief executive, Jon Barrick, said with an ageing population the number of stroke survivors in the UK - already numbering more than a million - is set to rise.

He said strokes could leave survivors and their families "shocked, shaken and anxious" with their lives often "irreversibly changed in an instant". He added: "Better recognition by health and social care professionals of the impact of stroke will help people to be properly assessed and get the right support."

Each year in the UK some 152,000 people suffer strokes. The brain damage that the condition causes is the country's largest contributor to adult disability

Charities fear for pensioners under care system

Thu, 02 May 2013 09:28:00 GMT

Pensioners at risk of 'abuse or neglect ' or with 'substantial' needs are the only ones who will receive state help to pay for care, with ministers accused of deceiving older people over eligibility rules.

From 2016, the State will pay the full costs if a pensioner has already paid £72,000 for home-based care or care home fees.

However, charity Age UK has warned that the small print of the system shows older people must be entirely incapable of fending for themselves before they can get financial assistance.

It is thought the State will only begin to calculate how much pensioners are putting towards their care once they have 'substantial' needs - which means they would be unable to perform most personal care or domestic routines - or if 'abuse or neglect has occurred or will occur'.

However, someone classified as having 'moderate' needs - a level below 'substantial' - could still be unable to cook for themselves or go to the toilet without assistance.

The rules mean pensioners could pay thousands of pounds for home help before they reach a level deemed 'substantial'.

A lot of middle-class pensioners will therefore fork out substantial amounts of cash towards their own care before the money they have paid out is counted towards the £72,000 elderly care cap, possibly forcing older people to sell their home.

Charities fear the rules will weaken the position of older people, with more forced to move into a care home or even hospital.

Michelle Mitchell, of Age UK, said: "The Government's care cap announcement allowed people to think they would be entitled to help if they need care in later life.

"But if the eligibility criteria set by the Government excludes those with 'moderate' needs, this simply won't be the case."

As it stands, the majority of authorities only help pensioners with 'substantial' needs. Some help older people with 'moderate' needs, while others wait until they reach 'critical'.

Northern Trust to shut care homes

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 11:07:00 GMT

The Northern Health Trust has announced that it intends to eventually stop providing residential care entirely.

As part of a wide-ranging reform of elderly care provision across Northern Ireland, the trust is planning to close half of its nine homes within the next three years.

Local politicians and unions have criticised the plans, which we will ultimately see care provision at its homes finish altogether.

"At present the trust manages nine residential homes and we propose that no more long-term admissions are made to any of our homes," said the trust's statement.

"We would intend to close up to 50% of our homes over the next three years and in the longer term stop providing statutory residential care entirely. Some private residential care will be available."

Pinewood residential home, in Ballymena, and Westlands in Cookstown are due to close as early as November, while Rathmoyle in Moyle is scheduled to close in January next year.

The remainder will also shut between 2014 and 2018, although it is known exactly when these closures will happen.

Unite hit out at the move, describing it as "privatising elderly health care", while Unison said the plans would remove any choice for vulnerable people.

The trust also recently discussed a paper on the future of residential care services, which forms part of the Transforming Your Care plan recently agreed by the health minister Edwin Poots.

There would be a 50% reduction in care homes across the whole of Northern Ireland if the plan came to fruition. Consequently, the focus of care provision for the elderly would move away from residential settings and concentrate more on independent living.

"Older people have consistently told us that they want to remain at home for as long as possible," said Una Cunning, director of older people's service at the Northern Health Trust. "We are also planning for a growing older population and the ensuing demands on the service."

Care homes going bust due to funding cuts

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 14:53:00 GMT

Local authority cuts are to blame for increasing care home insolvency across the UK, a new report claims.

A total of 67 homes went bust last year as reductions in spending continue to have a devastating effect, accountancy firm Wilkins Kennedy revealed.

The figure represents a 12% rise on the number of service providers that went bust in 2011 and is almost double the total recorded in 2010.

In comparison, entire corporate insolvency in UK during 2012 contracted by 5% on the previous year.

Many care homes borrowed heavily throughout the boom years in order to fund growth and build for the future. But the boom is now over and a large proportion of them are left with large amounts of debt that they are unable to pay back.

"Care homes have been really hurt by local authority cutbacks," said Stephen Grant, partner at Wilkins Kennedy. "Local authority referrals are a major revenue stream for a sector that is weighed down by very high fixed costs.

"As well as those care home businesses that have already gone into administration, there are a large number of care homes that risk breaking banking covenants."

Low occupancy levels have contributed to the current predicament, and Mr Grant believes some homes will consider selling their property assets to help remain afloat.

However, he admits they would be lucky to get anywhere near the true value of their assets in the current market.

"Where care homes own their properties, they will struggle to sell for a high enough price in today's property market," he added.

"Many of today's care homes were bought at the height of the property market and would be sold at a loss if put on the market."

Demand for big residential redevelopment opportunities is still quite weak outside London and the south east of England, while several care home operators don't have any major assets at all as they sold their properties during the pre-crisis property boom and have been renting them back ever since.

In addition, many care home owners who originally entered the sector as a means to invest in property are now trapped as the value of care home properties has fallen.

Selling homes to fund care idea gains momentum

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 14:51:00 GMT

Property is the most likely means of funding future long-term care.

That is the conclusion of a new report which suggests that people are rapidly realising they will have to be more independent from State help in their later years.

The second Care Index's findings show that selling property has overtaken Government funding, pensions and savings in helping to pay for supporting people in later life.

The report's author, Partnership, believes that over-65s have £753 billion of un-mortgaged equity in their property, making them 'asset rich' but 'income poor.'

The care annuity provider firm said it is important that most people (57%) who are now paying some or all of their care costs and may plan to use their home to fund their care fees get appropriate regulated financial advice.

Four in 10 people now believe they will have to sell their home to pay for care in their twilight years.

This was the most common answer, whereas only 12 months earlier the highest percentage of people (52%) thought that the State would contribute towards some or even all of their care.

This was followed by pension income (45%), other savings (35%) and the sale of their home (31%).

Chris Horlick, Managing Director of Care at Partnership, said the report showed that as the social care funding debate has grown, so too has the speed of change in attitude, as people's belief in the State is replaced by a reliance on their own means.

Mr Horlick, who said that property had become an important source of value for retired people, added: "This research also suggests that equity release may provide another valuable mechanism to enable people to access the equity in their property to cover their care fees."

A further 9% of those questioned this year said they would rent their home to give themselves an ongoing income.

Care comparison website launched

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 14:51:00 GMT

The Government has launched a "care comparison website", care and support minister Norman Lamb has announced.

Although it is still a work in progress, the new online tool is aiming to help people make a more informed decision when it comes to choosing the right care home for their loved ones.

A recent report from the Nuffield Trust highlighted a "real gap" in the information about health and social care providers available to the public.

The website will enable people to carry out a like-for-like comparison on care homes and a host of other care-related services.

Each organisation can have its own online profile embedded in the NHS Choices website, featuring information on services, comments from other users and official reports from Care Quality Commission inspections.

The Government is also introducing an "Ofsted-style" ratings system for care homes in England, with those results featuring on the new website when the new regime comes into force.

The new comparison website will "leave bad care nowhere to hide" and lead to better quality provision across the board, Mr Lamb said.

He said being able to read about the experiences of others would help people make "confident choices" about long-term care plans and let providers know which areas they need to work on.

"Bringing together all this information will give people facing difficult decisions about care an easy way to compare local care options, putting them more in control," Mr Lamb added.

"As more providers add their details and more people comment on their profiles, there will be an even greater volume of knowledge and information available then ever before that will benefit everyone."

Funding reforms could add £2bn to public expenditure

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 12:17:00 GMT

As much as £2 billion could be added to public expenditure by 2030 if the government's recent plans to reform the funding system for care and support in England come to fruition, claims a new research paper.

The estimate from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and the University of East Anglia (UEA) is based on proposals with a cap of £75,000.

In contrast, the Dilnot Commission's proposals, which had recommended a cap of £35,000, would cost a projected £3.3 billion extra.

People with savings above an upper threshold of £23,250 are not generally eligible for publicly funded care and support under the current system, while there is also a lower threshold of £14,250 below which savings are completely disregarded in the means test for social care.

The government's plans, which propose to increase the upper threshold from £23,250 to £118,000 in 2016, would benefit higher income care home residents the most, with the richest fifth of residents aged 85 and over gaining £52 a week on average, compared to £20 for the poorest fifth.

Meanwhile, the paper outlines the effects of either increasing the lower capital threshold to £41,600 or halving the rate of user charge levied in respect of savings between the two thresholds from £1 per week per £250 of assets to £1 per week per £500 of assets.

In this case, lower income care home residents would gain since they are more likely than those with higher incomes to have assets in the range affected by these options.

Either of these changes would approximately cost an additional £150 million by 2030, stated the paper.

"The government's reforms will, we estimate, directly help over 100,000 care home residents at any time," said Raphael Wittenberg, Principal Research Fellow at LSE's Personal Social Services Research Unit.

"They will tend to provide greater benefit to relatively better off older people, primarily because they currently have to pay the most for their care."

"Our research highlights two possible ways to modify the reforms, if resources permitted, in order to provide more help for those on relatively low to modest means."

'Integrated care' proposed by Labour

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 12:05:00 GMT

Labour leader Ed Miliband is to warn of a multi-billion pound black hole in NHS funding to meet the care needs of an ageing population unless there is reform.

He believes the NHS is currently facing the biggest challenge in its history, with financial pressures colliding with the rising need for care as society gets older.

Labour is therefore set to create an independent commission to examine how health and social care can be integrated in order to remedy the situation.

The party believes there is widespread support for combing both services, although Mr Miliband will claim integration is being damaged by the Government's "free market ideology".

Former Department of Health specialist Sir John Oldham will front the Independent Commission on Whole-Person Care.

Launching the commission on a visit to Lancashire, Mr Miliband will say: "The NHS will always be a priority for expenditure under a Labour government, but we must make every pound we spend go further at a time when our NHS faces the risk of being overwhelmed by a crisis in funding because of care needs by the end of this decade.

"When the NHS was in crisis in the 1990s, Labour was able to save it by combining reform with unprecedented increases in funding. We know that budgets will be tighter under the next Labour government. But even in these tough times we want the NHS to provide a better service for patients."

Labour believes the changes will save billions of pounds which can then be better spent elsewhere in the NHS, while also securing the future of long-term care.

Under the plans, more care will be provided directly in people's homes, there will be a greater focus on prevention and better co-ordination between different branches of the system.

Mr Milband is to highlight figures from the Nuffield Trust which show growing care needs will leave a shortfall of up to £29 billion a year by 2020 in NHS funding unless improvements are made in the way services are delivered.

Care home regulator's swift change pledge

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 12:04:00 GMT

The regulator that inspects English care homes has pledged "swift" change in a bid to improve services and boost the public's confidence in it.

Since its launch in 2009, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) has come under fire for not generating public confidence in its operations.

And earlier this year the Health Select Committee said the body had failed to define its core purpose despite "sustained criticism".

MPs have said the handling of a whistle-blowing board member and failures in the CQC's registration process had "further undermined" public confidence.

But now the commission, which inspects care homes and hospitals to make sure standards are being met, has launched a new three-year plan. And it is promising that its role will be "firmly on the side" of patients and those using social care and health services.

David Prior, chairman of the CQC, said the social care regulator recognised the need to change and was proposing swift action to ensure it was well-run and "high performing".

And a spokesman for the commission said in the future it would be conducting "bigger, more expert" inspections of care homes in England.

He said better information, including the rating of services, would be made available to the public which should increase confidence in the organisation.

Meanwhile, the regulator had pledged to "more effectively" use evidence and information that it gathers to identify care homes and other services providing long-term care that are failing.

Mr Prior said: "This is an important moment for CQC. We have recognised we need to change and are determined to do so swiftly.

"We will work with those we regulate and our own staff to develop a better system of regulation and to build a high-performing organisation that is well run, has an open culture that supports its staff, and is focused on people."

Social care 'prevents re-offending'

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 11:00:00 GMT

Adult social care staff provide a key service in helping offenders turn away from a life of crime, a new report has claimed.

A joint briefing by the Association of Adult Social Services (ADASS), the Prison Reform Trust, the Revolving Doors Agency and the Centre for Mental Health has praised the work done by adult social care services in offering long-term care and support for people with multiple needs who have committed criminal offences.

The report acknowledged that money was tight for adult social services departments but said offering support to offenders ultimately saves public money. And it urged local services to work together more closely to help people live independently in the community.

The briefing paper has been written to advise directors of adult social services departments as well as lead members. The document, which comes with a foreword by Sarah Pickup, ADASS's president, was unveiled at the ADASS Spring Seminar this week.

The report shows that many criminals have additional needs including mental health problems and learning disabilities. Offenders may also be homeless or addicted to drugs, alcohol or other substances, meaning they need extra help and support.

Lord Bradley's review which looked at people in the criminal justice system with mental health issues or learning disabilities made it clear that social care is essential in reducing crime. It said that working with people to improve their health and social care would make them less likely to commit more crimes in the future.

The Ministry of Justice's seven resettlement pathways for offenders include working with them to help with accommodation, money, benefits and debt as well as with their children and family.

However, the briefing warned authorities to make sure people with multiple needs do not fall through the net because they are being assessed separately for different services rather than being looked at as a whole.

Care Inspectorate appoints new chair

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 10:54:00 GMT

A group dedicated to improving care services for adults and children across Scotland has appointed a new chair.

Councillor Paul Edie, who is currently the leader of the Liberal Democrat group on Edinburgh City Council, has been named as the chair of the Care Inspectorate.

He will fulfil the role for the next two years, running until April 2015, after the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing made the announcement.

The Care Inspectorate, formerly known as Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland, was created in April 2011 under the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010.

Introduced as the new single improvement and scrutiny regulator in Scotland for social work and social care services, it took over the functions of the former Care Commission, Social Work Inspection Agency and the child protection unit of HMIE.

Mr Edie has served as a councillor in Edinburgh for 18 years, also working for the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service for two decades.

Between 2007 and 2012 he chaired the Health Social Care and Housing Committee, served as a non-executive director of NHS Lothian, and was a member of the Lothian and Borders Community Justice Authority.

The new chair role will require Mr Edie to commit up to 12 days per month, attracting a remuneration of £236.50 per day.

He will also have to commit up to a further 30 days per year as a board member of both Healthcare Improvement Scotland and the Scottish Social Services Council.

Although political activity plays no part in the selection process, there is a requirement, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, for appointees' political activity within the last five years to be made public.

Mr Edie serves at Edinburgh City Council as leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, for whom he has spoken on behalf of on numerous occasions.

Care homes aim to tackle loneliness

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 14:36:00 GMT

The great British teacup is spearheading the fight against loneliness among older people and those living in care homes.

More than 300 homes across the UK are using tea-themed events to help highlight the problem of isolation.

Among the people taking part in the Communi-tea Week celebrations are residents and staff at Bupa's Seabrooke Manor Residential and Nursing Home, in Ilford, Essex.

The annual campaign has an added twist this year - with home baking being added to the Communi-tea tray to help older people who live by themselves join up over tea and a 'sweet bake'.

The Communi-tea Week (April 15-21) events come shortly after a report was published, claiming that more than one in five (22%) older people in the UK feel lonely due to the splintered nature of modern family life.

The WRVS national charity study said that half of all older people (about five million) - many of them in long-term care - see the television as their main company.

Research from a 2012 study said that over half (51%) of all people aged 75 and over live alone and 12% of older people feel trapped in their own home.

Siobhan Drane, Bupa Care Homes' Community Partnerships manager, said loneliness among older people living on their own is far too common as they become more dependent on others visiting.

Seabrooke Manor will be hosting a special 1950s and 1960s-themed Communi-tea Week party on Wednesday (April 17) from 2pm.

Older locals are invited to come along and members of the local church and youth groups will also be there.

Nelly Sooben, home manager, said she wanted as many people as possible to go along, have a good time and make new friends over a brew and a cake.

She said: "Everyone knows that there is nothing better than a friendly 'cuppa' to bring people together and our residents and local community are no exception."

Care UK acquires Living Ambitions

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 15:38:00 GMT

Social care provider Care UK has announced that it has secured a living service for adults with learning disabilities in Salford and Lancashire.

The company has purchased Living Ambitions for an undisclosed sum from owner Peter Watson.

Living Ambitions, which was formerly part of the Watson Healthcare Group in 1989, has a proven track record of providing bespoke support services to local communities in the North West of England.

The service is currently helping around 50 people across 25 different locations in the region.

The service became independent after its launch. It helps those with a range of complex issues, such as learning disability and autism spectrum conditions like Asperger syndrome, physical disabilities, mental health conditions and sensory impairments.

Care UK sees the opportunity to add Living Ambitions to its portfolio as an ideal fit because the firm has such an established track record of helping people with mental health conditions across Britain, it suggests.

It is believed that the acquisition will be a natural fit with its existing services, and spokesperson Libby Eastley explained that it was the bespoke offerings from Living Ambitions that really drew Care UK's attention.

She explained that the high emphasis placed on providing personalised, compassionate care was a real stand-out feature of the North West-based firm.

Ms Eastley described how that was in-keeping with Care UK's dedication to providing community-based care pathways that allow people to reach their full potential and enjoy rewarding, fulfilled lives.

"We have been very impressed with the employees that we've met so far and I would like to welcome them into the Care UK family," she added.

Specialised housing can prevent loneliness

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 12:01:00 GMT

One of the keys to prevention of older people feeling lonely and isolated is investment in specialised housing, the chief executive of Audley Retirement Villages has said.

Nick Sanderson's comments follow the publication on Thursday of data that shows older people who suffer through ill health are more likely to feel lonely than others.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) published its 'Measuring National Wellbeing - Older people and loneliness 2013' report, which examines people above age 52 who have expressed feelings of loneliness.

The report uses data from the 2009-10 English Longitudinal Study of Ageing.

The ONS report reveals that people who are 80-plus and say they have lonely feelings 'some of the time' and 'often' have a far higher percentage rating than other age groups.

"The latest round of ONS statistics measuring national wellbeing looks at older people and issues of loneliness as well as how they manage their leisure time. What this insight confirms is how crucial it is for those in later life to be given the right support as they age," Mr Sanderson said.

"A survey recently published by the Association of Retirement Community Operators revealed that older people spend over a third of the year on their own, with loneliness all too often being endemic amongst those of retirement age. This is one of the reasons why it is so important that we invest in specialist housing for older people.

"Extra care housing enables older people to remain independent, living in their own home and on their own terms, within a vibrant community. Central facilities including restaurants, swimming pools and exercise facilities, as well as a range of activities and classes give older people mental and physical stimulation, as well as vital companionship which improves their quality of life.

"The extra care model allows older people to remain both active and in control with support available as and when they need it."

'Help at Hand' to ease burden on carers

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 11:59:00 GMT

On average, young people have to save for more than a decade before they can afford to buy their own home, and often by the time they have managed to stump up enough cash for a deposit, they have become responsible for caring for their parents.

Three million adults aged between 20 and 34 still live with a parent or parents, while one in five people will become a carer of a parent at some point in their lives, official statistics show.

This means there are potentially 600,000 Britons who will be living with and then caring for their mum and dad - which is why O2 Health has launched its new mobile care service, Help at Hand.

The service aims to help the elderly, ill and vulnerable to remain independent for longer. It features a special handset with a fall detector, as well as GPS tracking, designated "safe zones" and a special one-touch button that links to a 24-hour support centre that can contact loved ones, carers or emergency services if needed.

With the number of people over the age of 65 growing at a rate of knots, it is more imperative than ever that innovative care schemes are developed. In large parts of the country nearly two-thirds of people will have developed a long-term health condition such as dementia, heart disease or diabetes by this age.

This creates a vicious cycle, keeping grown-up children tied to the family home to provide care instead of living their own lives. One in 10 carers have even had to give up work or is considering doing so to support a loved one.

These findings have been highlighted by O2 Health to illustrate the need for new mobile technologies to allow people to get the support they need without putting unnecessary demands on those who care for them.

Report details NICE guidance for social care

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 13:27:00 GMT

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is the subject of a new draft report from the Citizens Council, the body that advises NICE, detailing the factors that should be considered when NICE guidance is developed for social care.

From April 1, 2013, NICE assumed responsibility for developing guidance and quality standards for social care, and the Citizens Council was asked to consider which aspects of benefit, cost and need NICE should identify as key factors when undertaking this new area of work.

In exploring the three areas of benefit, cost and need, the council concluded:

Benefit' should be seen in terms of the ability that someone has to be as independent as possible, and part of a community;
Guidance and standards should take carers into account and ensure they are supported in the vital job they do;
The concept of 'need' in social care is different to need in healthcare where need is often determined by a health professional - in social care need is determined and defined by the service user, and is much broader;
As need varies from person to person, more research should be carried out into how need is measured, to better inform what services to provide;
The value of unpaid carers should be included in cost-effectiveness calculations;
NICE's existing methods for assessing the costs of healthcare intervention are not sufficient for social care because there are more differences than similarities between the two areas. They felt that new methods and processes should be developed for this new area of work.

The Citizen Council's consideration of factors was warmly welcomed by Professor Carole Longson, NICE Director responsible for the Citizens Council, and she explained how the Citizens Council make an important contribution to NICE's work by providing a snapshot of the general public's thinking.

Professor Longson also commented that the legislation that sets out NICE's new remit for social care states it must take into account 'the broad balance between the benefits and costs' of care, and also people's 'degree of need' for care and long-term care plans, which she feels has been adequately addressed by the Citizens Council.

25% 'asking family for top-up cash'

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 13:58:00 GMT

More than a quarter of older people who are eligible for local authority-funded residential care are having to ask friends and family for top-up funds to stay in their care home, a study has found.

The number of people living in care homes who are being funded by their council but who are paying top-up fees has risen to 56,000 during 2012-2013, care home analysts Laing & Buisson said.

This number forms 28% of the 199,000 council-funded older care home residents across Britain.

In most English councils, a person living in a care home would only be allocated full funding from their local authority if they have been found to have critical or substantial needs, and if they have assets under the value of £14,250.

People who possess assets worth between £14,250 and £23,500 are eligible for subsidised care funding. The poorest and most vulnerable older people are therefore most affected by top-up fees.

Fees are only meant to be paid by friends and family when a resident has picked a home that has a higher price than the fee which the council usually agrees to pay in respect to a resident with similarly assessed needs.

Age UK's advice line hears that in practice, residents are given little choice but to find money to pay for the top-up, as there are a lack of places available at the council's agreed baseline cost rate.

There has also been evidence that some councils have not acted in line with the law, as some have set a very low baseline fee which will not pay for any home fees in their area, meaning older people and their families have no alternative but to find money to pay the top-up fees.

Age UK said that self-funding people will suffer the consequences of inadequate council baseline fees.

Currently, many self-funders must pay higher rates and are effectively subsidising some council-funded residents.

'Concerns' over care for the elderly

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 13:31:00 GMT

Many people believe that care for the nation's elderly is below par, research suggests, with several concerned that their elderly relatives are receiving substandard treatment.

But childcare is highly rated in the UK, despite being expensive, the study has also shown.

The findings are the result of a study of reviews left on feedback website the Good Care Guide, which works like Trip Advisor, allowing people the chance to find, rate and review the country's care providers.

While childcare received mainly positive feedback, almost three quarters (71%) of negative reviews on the site were directed towards care for the elderly which is provided by homecare agencies and care homes.

The site, which was launched a year ago, analysed more than 2,000 reviews, describing those with zero to three stars as negative, and those with four or five stars as positive. The results found that there was one negative for every eight positive reviews overall.

Of the negative reviews, 71% were directed towards homecare agencies and care homes, with 23% of agency reviews and 15% of care home reviews declaring sub-standard care.

The biggest concern for over 84% of people when choosing a care home is the cost and quality of care or specialist care, the study revealed.

In contrast to the concern over care for the elderly, 90% of those who wrote on the site about childcare left positive reviews.

Yet childcare providers were rated low for value for money, with 8% of childcare reviews referring to the costs involved.

Comments included "horrendously expensive", "costs most of my salary", and "can't afford full time childcare".

Two thirds 'unhappy' with social care

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 09:16:00 GMT

Less than a third of people are satisfied by the council-provided social care services on offer, according to a new survey.

The British Social Attitudes study found just 30% of people were happy with the standard of social care in England, Scotland and Wales.

And the poll, which asked the opinions of 1,103 people, found that 31% were unhappy with long-term care and other services offered to the elderly, disabled and unwell.

The study was published by the think tank the King's Fund, and its authors said 28% of people expressed neutral opinions about health and social care. Another 11% did not know what they thought of the services, indicating a lack of knowledge.

The survey also found just over six out of 10 people were satisfied with the way the NHS was run - slightly more than the year before. In 2011 the satisfaction level had been just 58%, dropping a record amount from 2010 when the figure had been 70%.

John Appleby, chief economist at the King's Fund, said the poll had given a good indication of what the population thought of the NHS and care services.

He said 2012's figures indicated that the record fall in satisfaction with the NHS in 2011 was not a "blip" as there had only been a slight increase. He said it might take some time for people's faith in the health service to be restored.

Dr Johnny Marshall, director of policy for the NHS Confederation, said the report into Mid Staffordshire had highlighted the importance for local authorities and trusts to listen carefully to what patients and their loved ones were telling them about the services they offer.

He said they should pay attention to surveys as well as feedback from people to try and improve their care.

Extra support for dementia care in Scotland

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 13:25:00 GMT

Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing Alex Neil has overseen the launch of a new initiative which will ensure additional support for people with dementia in Scotland.

Ministers in Scotland will this week become the first to introduce a scheme which will deliver a personal experience to patients through a named support worker.

The carer will adapt care plans to help people with dementia and those close to them understand the illness, control its symptoms and plan ahead.

Alzheimer Scotland has helped develop the new care commitment, which was brought to life on the back of detailed research and practical work by the charity to tackle dementia.

The illness affects up to 86,000 people and their families in Scotland, a figure which is set to double by 2038.

The commitment forms part of Scotland's first National Dementia Strategy which was introduced three years ago.

Further changes are expected in June, with a focus on improving services for all dementia sufferers, regardless of how advanced the illness is or where they are undergoing care.

Mr Neil said he is aware first hand of what it means to know that family members with dementia are receiving the best care possible.

"Being diagnosed with dementia must be a tremendously difficult time. It also places huge strain on partners and families," he said.

"That's why I'm delighted that this commitment is in place - it shows just how much we prioritise older people's care."

Mr Neil added that the additional support will help those with dementia, their families and carers adjust to the diagnosis. They will have a number of options in terms of services and will be in a better position to plan for future care.

"It builds on Scotland's strong performance on increasing diagnosis rates and strengthens our focus on promoting the right of people with dementia to care and support that is dignified, personalised and empowering to them and their family," Mr Neil said.

Info centre to 'drive up' care standards

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 13:24:00 GMT

A source of information about health and social care which aims to help improve services for patients has been launched.

The Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) was established as an executive non-departmental public body on Monday, April 1.

The centre will provide a base for reliable information and data on all subjects which relate to health and short-term and long-term care.

The idea behind the HSCIC is that it will help drive up standards in care, leading to improved services and better outcomes for patients.

It will seek to aid the spread of information across the health and social care system to try and promote best practice and it will support the delivery of IT infrastructure, information systems and standards.

The remit of the HSCIC was explained in detail in the Health and Social Care Act 2012 as well as in the Government's recent information strategy for health and care in England. The centre, which will produce more than 130 statistical publications each year, is based in Leeds and employs around 2,000 people.

Alan Perkins, HSCIC's interim chief executive, said that the centre will help make sure data and information are used to their full potential to make improvements to the care given to patients.

This could range from implementing advanced informatics solutions to delivering high quality analysis of data.

He added that the main aim is to create better care, better services and better outcomes and the welfare of patients and the public are at the heart of the work carried out at the new centre.

Before April 1, this work was carried out by the previous Health and Social Care Information Centre, which used to be known as the NHS Information Centre, NHS Connecting for Health and Strategic Health Authorities.

But now it will all be conducted by the HSCIC, instead of the work being split between different organisations.

Single care budget 'would close gaps'

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 13:23:00 GMT

The shadow health secretary plans to merge the NHS, social care and mental health services into one single budget.

Andy Burnham said his new proposals would close "dangerous" gaps between services which put the vulnerable at risk, if Labour returned to power.

The proposals for the reforms would be funded by a levy on estates - or via payments made by older people.

The Leigh MP added that he also wants to limit new migrants' access to healthcare services if they are not in need of emergency care, to stop them exploiting the system.

He is "happy to look at" existing care and benefit rules with a view to toughening them considerably, he told the Daily Telegraph.

Mr Burnham said that what the health services did for his wife, Marie-France, had been "incredible".

Mrs Burnham underwent a double mastectomy after discovering she had the breast cancer gene.

He said: "Her family were in Belgium, where the care is not as good. Of the three sisters, Claire died (when 39), and Louise, the eldest, had breast cancer but has seen it off."

But Mr Burnham said his family's experience of the British care system was not so encouraging in other areas.

He said his grandmother's "thoroughly depressing" first-hand knowledge of it has fuelled his reform plans. She had her engagement ring stolen from her finger during her treatment more than 10 years ago, he said.

Mr Burnham told the Telegraph: "Her knuckle was red raw because someone had ripped off her engagement ring and stolen it."

He added: "I remember my mum saying to me: 'If you ever get into Parliament, you had better do something about this.'"

His plans were announced ahead of the Government's Health and Social Care Act coming into effect on April 1.