Tag Archives: Older care
4,000 care homes have been allowed to break the law
More than 4,000 care homes are being allowed to break the law by regulators, with no registered manager in charge of residents.
The Care Quality Commmission (CQC) has turned a blind eye to the failing, even though its chief executive has admitted that said such homes are far more likely to be putting vulnerable people at risk.
A non-executive for the regulator described the situation as “shocking,” as the organisation announced plans for a crackdown, with criminal sanctions and fines of up to £4,000 for homes which have no-one in charge.
A report to CQC said there were currently more than 3,900 care homes without a registered manager, equivalent to two per cent of all the residential homes.
Of these about a quarter had not had a registered manager for more than two years and would be the first to be targeted.
Registered managers of care homes are supposed to be held accountable for the quality of services in care homes, and be held accountable for failings.
How to avoid unscrupulous traders of mobility aids
Mobility aid scams
Mobility aid scams are reported to be among ten scams on the rise in 2013 by The Telegraph and have earned dodgy traders more than £28m in three years. These target elderly people on the telephone or doorstep and involve hard-selling tactics. Below are ways to avoid unscrupulous traders:
Cold calling
This can be stressful for an elderly person, but you must remain composed. If you are unsure or feel pressurised, say that you are not interested and hang up the phone. If you continue to be targeted, do not hesitate to alert the authorities.
On the doorstep
Be wary of time-limited offers and always compare prices by getting a second opinion. If you are unsure or feel under pressure, politely say so and close the door.
Home care fees rise by up to 160pc as rationing takes hold
Elderly and disabled people who need care in their own homes have been hit with rises of up to 160 per cent in their bills in just five years, new research shows.
7:00AM BST 19 Sep 2013
Home care fees rise by up to 160pc as rationing takes hold Photo: IAN JONES
The number of areas in which the state support for care is available to anyone other than the most frail has also halved in the same period, it discloses.
A study by Which?, the consumer rights group, exposes the full extent to which councils are rationing care as they attempt to absorb major cuts to their budgets.
Based on information obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, it discloses that there are now only 12 local authorities in England and Wales still offering care to people whose needs are officially assessed as “moderate”. Five years ago it was able to identify 26 areas where this was still available.
