Dementia care homes failing the elderly
New BBC documentary “Can Gerry Robinson Fix Dementia Care Homes? “ explores the nations care homes and concludes that the care industry has a long way to before we can be sure that our loved ones will spend the final years of their lives in a happy and truly caring environment.
In 20 years time over a million of us will be suffering from dementia, yet our reluctance as a nation to confront the state of dementia care is shocking. The programme highlights the fact there is no minimum standard of training required to work in a dementia care home, the only condition is that you don’t have a criminal record.
With a vast number of U.K care homes being owned privately, one of the challenges of the industry is how to provide a high standard of care whilst still turning a profit. Care homes are actually a very high profit and virtually recession proof organisations. Private owners of care homes can expect to make up to 30% profit on their homes giving them a clear margin for financial investment in the care they provide.
Chief Executive of the Alzheimer’s Research Trust, Rebecca Wood has spoken out about who she recognises that the care system in place for dementia “lags” far behind medical and care achievements elsewhere.
“We cannot continue to brush this problem under the carpet, and only by improving vastly our standards of care and our investment in research can we ever hope to end the growing misery dementia causes now and in the future,” she adds.
Can Gerry Robinson Fix Dementia Care Homes? is broadcast on BBC Two at 2100 GMT on Tuesday 8th and Tuesday 15th December.
Or catch-up afterwards on BBC iPlayer (UK only).