A report from health watchdog Healthwatch England has revealed that over 3000 people receiving home care have come forward to talk about what they describe as a “lacklustre service.”
Among the number of complaints and comments collected, the report concluded that home care services in England were “in a fragile state”, as well as stating that home care packages were “designed to meet the needs of the service provider rather than the service user.”
Among the many problems noted, a number were specifically highlighted by the health watchdog.
One home care user from Redcar and Cleveland talked about her experiences, where she explained that due to strict time constraints, she was unable to take a shower for two weeks.
“Sometimes they give me a shower but they go over their time. Most of the time they haven’t got the time to give me one so I go a couple of weeks without one and that is not right. I feel dirty,” she said.
Over in Bradford, a woman said her care workers were severely untrained, explaining they were unable to correctly make a bed or prepare basic food.
And for a care user in North London, her reliance on diabetic medication has often caused problems when her care workers arrive late.
“I am diabetic and sometimes carers are late or don’t show up and that really affects my medications and insulin administration,” she said.
Yet despite a large number of complaints, Healthwatch England did note it had also received a number of positive comments about people’s experiences with home care.
While the amount of praise did outweigh the number of complaints, it does highlight a home care industry that seems to suffer from severe varied levels of care.
“We heard examples of compassionate care from dedicated staff, but people also talked about care that doesn’t meet even basic standards. Given the challenges facing the social care sector, it is more important than ever that people’s voices are heard,” said deputy director of Healthwatch England, Neil Tester.
Chairwoman of the Local Government Association’s community wellbeing board, Izzi Seccombe, said that despite the fact that there were more compliments than criticisms, there was still a need to improve the country’s home care services.
“The financial pressure facing services is having an impact and even the very best efforts of councils are not enough to avert the real and growing crisis we are facing in ensuring older people receive the care they deserve,” she said.
“The continuing underfunding of adult social care, the significant pressures of an ageing population and the ‘national living wage’ are combining to heap pressure on the home care provider market.
“This study shows the strain providers are under, and emphasises the urgent need for a long-term, sustainable solution to the social care funding crisis.”
If you or a loved one requires more information on all the support available to those considering home care, contact our team at Home Caring today. Our trained team will be able to show you exactly how they can help.
Protect Our Seniors: Beware of Scammers!
Scammers are increasingly targeting older Australians using fake phone calls, emails and online scams to steal personal information and money.
How to stay safe?
> Never share personal details over the phone or online.
> Verify requests by calling the company or organisation directly.
> Educate your loved ones about scam tactics.
#ScamWatch #HomeCaring
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Cancer affects millions but it does not define us. We are more than a disease, more than a statistic.
The new World Cancer Day campaign (2025-27), “United by Unique”, puts people at the heart of care, focusing on new ways to raise awareness and take action over the next three years.
Join the movement (see link in the comment section).
#WorldCancerDay #UnitedByUnique #HomeCaring
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Monday Motivation! 🩵
Meet Ana Victoria Espino de Santiago - the first lawyer with Down Syndrome! Breaking barriers and redefining what’s possible, she’s proving that dreams have no limits.
Her journey is a powerful reminder that ability is not defined by disability. Let’s celebrate her achievements and continue to challenge societal perceptions!
#RedefiningPossible #InclusionMatters #HomeCaring #NDIS
Image Source: thebigsmoke.com.au
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Dementia affects approximately 421,000 Australians and without a medical breakthrough this number could double by 2058. But together, we can make a difference.
Join the fight against dementia by participating in Memory Walk & Jog 2025! Every step you take helps fund counselling, education, support services and vital research for a cure.
🏃♀️ Events run from February to June 2025, see the link in the comment section. It's time to stop dementia in its tracks. Are you in? 💪🩵
#HomeCaring #BeatDementia
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