Care services failing people who have dementia

9.00.00am GMT Tue 17th Mar 2009

Graham Oakes campaigner for older people

Reacting to the Laing & Buisson report on the provision of care for people who have dementia Graham Oakes, a Nurse working in the field commented:

"This report highlights a serious problem in care provision - lack of appropriate training.

With the vast majority of Care Homes and Home Care Agencies looking after some people with dementia the level of training is incredibly variable. Even within some specialist Care Homes the staff are ignorant of best practice in looking after these vulnerable people."

The Laing & Buisson Survey covered 6,000 care homes and found that1 in 3 people (who live in residential care) with dementia are in care homes registered to provide that care. The report also found that the lack of staff training would impede the drive to reduce the use of anti-psychotic drugs.

"Providing first class dementia care requires trained, dedicate staff and the right environment. If we want to stop the use of the chemical club then we need to ensure there are enough trained staff in every home. The present level of state funding makes that virtually impossible."

The number of people with dementia is due to double to 1.7m by 2051. The Government have pledged action, promising to improve services as part of their dementia strategy.

Care Services Minister Phil Hope said he wanted to see care homes take a more active role in the management and care of people with dementia. "The national dementia strategy will improve the quality of care in care homes." However local Lib Dem Graham Oakes, who works in dementia care challenged the Minister "If the government are serious about improving these services they need to fund the appropriate training and raise the fees paid to care homes and home care agencies, via the County Council, to a level where quality care can be provided for all. So far all we had are words, no cash."

"I expect the government to use the new Care quality Commission, which replaces CSCI next month, to put pressure on care providers to improve standards whilst the government refuses to provide the resources to make this possible."

Many Care Homes and Home Care Agencies have started to address these issues without additional funding, but in an economic climate where care homes are closing it is hard to get some operators to invest in training.

"It is a pity that this report solely looks at care homes when there are thousands of people who have dementia being supported in their own homes by home care staff and they deserve high quality care too."