Social Care News

Care homes review site reveals mixed reviews

A report about comments received by the Good Care Guide website has highlighted a number of complaints about neglect and a lack of dignity shown to older people in some of its care home reviews.

A story in the Daily Telegraph reports that almost one in seven families who used the site to give feedback on their loved ones' experiences in care homes said there was a lack of respect and, in some cases, neglect.

The figures are based on the website's first 2,000 reviews.

The site, launched in 2012, operates in a similar way to the travel review site Trip Adviser, allowing people to find and rate care providers. It also rates childcare providers.

Just under 25,000 care homes and homecare agencies are listed on the site although not all have been reviewed. Where providers are reviewed the Guide promises, "honest, impartial views" (some negative reviews have been investigated by the owners of the site).

Good Care Guide reveals comments

An analysis of the Good Care Guide's first 2,000 reviews revealed some poor care experiences including:

• one woman whose 73-year-old father with Alzheimer's walked out of his care home without being stopped
• one woman said her father had been left in the bathroom for two hours in the night
• one said their father had been dressed in someone else's clothes
• one said their parent's drink of water had been left out of reach

For more on this story see: www.telegraph.co.uk/elderhealth/Neglect-and-lack-of-dignity-in-care-homes-in-new-study