OlderLivingMatters

England's Top 10

'older' Care Homes

FROM Darlington to Devon, from Blackpool to Bournemouth, just 0.1 per cent of homes  specialising in care for older people have top marks from the care regulator. 

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At any one time, only 10-12 homes in England aimed at older people - out of nearly 11,000 - can boast five 'Outstanding' stars from the CQC.  A further 40 have been given four stars. But nearly 200 homes, that's two per cent of elder care homes, are rated 'Inadequate' and nearly 2,000, one in five, need improvement.

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  These very best homes are incredibly diverse.  They are in every part of the country and they share little in common - except excellence, Some specialise in demanding dementia care, others are for more active pensioners.  A small minority are part of well-known national chains, such as Bupa.  The majority are independent, family-owned or part of small groups.  

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 Many of the top ten are akin to luxury hotels. Several charge more than £1,000 a week. But others accept local authority rates and 'top ups' from families in addition to public funding. 

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  They all have two things in common, however: they provide outstanding care for their residents - and they prove that money is not everything.

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  What marks them out, however,  are the official reports on these homes, which describe a caring atmosphere.   It is the sort of care which all older people should be getting, but few actually receive.  These homes are outstanding because the care is outstanding, the staff are outstanding and, critically,  there are enough staff to care properly for residents, 

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5-Star Outstanding Homes

Middleton Hall Retirement Village

Darlington

Wisteria House Plymouth

Arcot House

Sidmouth

Queensmount

Bournemouth

The Shelley

Worthing

Maplehurst

Haywards Heath

Godswell Park

Banbury

The Old Hall

Sleaford

Willersley House

Hull

Belsfield House

Blackpool

Older people are under attack. They are blamed for everything from Brexit to increasing levels of poor health and a lack of housing. They are an easy target for politicians and pundits alike - inspiring a growing chorus which argues that older people are a drain on society in general and younger generations in particular.

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‘Old’ is a term no longer associated with wisdom, experience and endurance. In our youth-obsessed world, old is weakness and something to be avoided, as we try ever harder to remain young. Older people are viewed as ignorant, foolish and a burden. They are increasingly seen as bringing problems on themselves - and others.

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 It is fake news of the worst sort and is already an excuse for the appalling treatment of older and vulnerable people – while at the same time we weep crocodile tears over individual cases of abuse but do nothing about it. In the UK, we do not even count the people over the age of 74 who die avoidable deaths – although life expectancy is over 80.

OlderLivingMatters.net was created to offer a helping hand and friendly advice – for those trapped on Planet Elderly. Everything is confusing, nothing is straightforward and there is no one to ask.

Oh, and OLM rages against the system and the way older people are treated.   

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