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| Did Gerry fix it for you? |
The broadcast in December of the BBC programme ‘Can Gerry Robinson Fix Dementia Care Homes?’ has provoked a lot of reaction from the care sector. In the programme, millionaire businessman Gerry Robinson visited a number of care homes that looked after people with dementia, and found differences in the levels of care.
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Caring Times, February 2010
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Helen Joy, CEO, Brunelcare, pictured below, comments: 'Gerry Robinson's investigation into dementia care homes has certainly helped to highlight some important issues. Yet, as the very title suggests, the generalisation made was vast - tarring almost the entire care sector with the same negative brush. Yes, dementia care has a long way to go and the need to embrace innovation and appropriate training, is vital. But it is my belief that we are no longer in the 'dark ages of dementia care' as suggested by Robinson
'Many organisations around the country have long ago abandoned the task-based approach for caring for individuals with dementia, as depicted within Robinson's documentary, and adopted a person centred care approach. This approach treats all behaviours, challenging or otherwise, as communication. It promotes dignity and independence by empowering those living with dementia; enabling them to regain control in many small yet significant ways, such as deciding on what they'd like to wear or when they want to eat their meals and go to sleep.
'But it's also about empowering staff - providing the right training and the right support to help them to perform their roles to the highest standards. It's about placing a value on carers and the amazing job they do. This, combined with a person centred care approach and ongoing research, will improve the lives of those living in dementia care homes and remove the associations of 'hiding people away to stagnate in empty lounges'.'
Sheila Scott, the National Care Association's Chief Executive, pictured below, said: 'Even before transmission of his latest 'expos�', the title of the two-part documentary 'Can Gerry Robinson Fix Dementia Care Homes?', gave a clear hint that this was going to be a TV entertainment 'fix'.
'The programme's line that 'the carrot of profit that propels private enterprise may simply not be compatible with high standards of care for our most vulnerable citizens' - a bit rich given the source - added to the suspicion that the programme's conclusions had been pre-determined, with the use of locations made to support this editorial line.
'Whilst the sector is always open to constructive criticism and new ideas, The National Care Association was shocked by this skewed view. 'The vast majority of care providers are committed to the continual development and maintenance of the highest standards of specialist care for those living with dementia, the support of their families, and the creation of settings 'dedicated' to the condition.
'The difference the delivery of high quality specialist care and training can make to the experience of living with dementia are issues that providers are constantly striving to improve on. Above all, providers strive to ensure that every resident is treated with dignity at all times - a word continually used by this programme despite their failure to show any respect for residents' own dignity.'
A spokesperson for Four Seasons Healthcare said: 'Whilst we welcomed the BBC2 programme with Sir Gerry Robinson highlighting struggling dementia care homes, we were disappointed that the programme did not reflect more on the positive work that has been done throughout the industry in the field of dementia care and best practice in care homes.
'A major factor in the success of a care home in providing quality dementia care is the need for home owners and operators to invest time and money in training to ensure that staff are able to deliver good person centred and appropriate care.
'Reflective practice is essential to all care home operators to ensure that we continue to meet the needs of our residents, and as more people in the UK will develop dementia in later life we all need to focus on this area of service delivery. This has been recognised by not only the government with the production of the recent Dementia Care Strategy but is also being focussed upon by more and more responsible care home operators.
'At Four Seasons Health Care, we have invested heavily over recent years with the development of our PEARL specialist dementia care service and it is rewarding to see the positive outcomes this investment has started to generate for our residents and their loved ones.
'The PEARL (Positively Enriching And enhancing Residents Lives) specialist dementia care service reflects all the very essence of quality care Sir Gerry highlighted in his programme by respecting residents as individuals, involving them and their families in the care process, providing a unique and stimulating environment within the care home that promotes resident, staff and visitor engagement and providing lasting staff training all of which are critical to promoting the happiness of our residents, their families and loved ones.'
Mike Padgham, chair of the Independent Care Group (York and North Yorkshire), said the majority of care homes were providing excellent, professional standards of care, despite ever-tightening funding.
'Recently, the Care Quality Commission reported that 76% of care homes for older people were providing good or excellent care. But it also warned that the remainder, 24%, were providing care that was either adequate or poor.
'It is extremely heartening to see that 76% are providing good or excellent care and encouraging that this percentage has risen by 9% on last year's figure. However, as is so often the case it is the 24% providing adequate or poor care that are attracting the headlines and featuring in programmes like Gerry Robinson's.
'As an organisation we would like to see those homes providing better care, but it has to be remembered that this care is being delivered against a backdrop of ever-tightening budgets. The Government has to realise that as we all look to improve standards in care homes, better levels of funding need to be provided. Local authorities, who commission a large proportion of care home places, are being squeezed during the current economic situation and that is making it difficult for care homes to operate and improve standards.
'We would like to see all homes providing the excellent standards of care Mr Robinson calls for in his programme but until the Government matches that desire for better standards with adequate funding it is difficult to see how standards will, in reality, get much better.'
'Earlier this year the Independent Care Group (York and North Yorkshire) agreed to support a new pressure group, The Fairer Fee Forum, which is seeking a judicial review over funding.'
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