Northampton, Northamptonshire -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/09/2017 -- Carehomes are in place to provide elderly people with accommodation and personal care when they may no longer be able to live independently, however these results have unfortunately shown an unacceptable level of negligence in many care homes across the country.

There has been a growing concern that these poor standards are the result of the prices that councils are now paying for elderly care, on the recently introduced web based commissioning system.

Approximately a dozen councils invite care homes to bid to provide an individual's care package. This system has been flanked with controversy, as families of residents feel that their loved ones are being 'actioned off'. 92% of care packages that were settled on the system over a six-month period were awarded to the bidder with the lowest price.

The inspectors investigating the properties raised their concerns about unsupported staff, poor care planning and the lack of upkeep of the homes. Some homes were reported to be dirty, unhygienic or smelt of urine.

It has been reported that some residents in care homes are now "resigned to accepting a level of unreliability within the service,". Elderly people were being put in danger because of poorly trained staff, for example more worrying findings included cases where the wrong medication has been given out, residents were being left with scabies, and dementia sufferers were being washed in cold water.

Some families have been worried to report low standards of care in the home, as some care homes are banning relatives who make complaints about the quality of care their family members are receiving.

The chief executive of Action on Elder Abuse, Gary FitzGerald, said: "That older people and their families worry that they will be asked to leave their care home if they make a complaint is evidence of just how many older people are living in a culture of fear – fear that their rights and dignity will be eroded and that they will have no recourse to justice.

"And unfortunately, these fears are not unfounded. It has been too easy to brand those who make complaints as troublemakers or as a danger to other residents and issue eviction notices. Home should be a sanctuary, but for some of those living in residential care, it has been anything but."

In more severe cases, elderly residents have been told they must move to a different care home. Personal injuries that have been suffered due to negligence in a care home should always be reported.

About Tollers
Founded in 1877, Tollers has grown to become a leading regional law firm with offices in Northampton, Milton Keynes, Kettering, Corby, Stevenage and Kempston. With six offices and over 163 staff they take a very modern approach to providing high-quality legal services.

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