Care Homes Project

Background

Torbay Link was approached and agreed to work with Torbay & Southern Devon Care Trust to visit local Residential and Nursing Homes to interview residents and carry out a survey on behalf of the Care Trust and the Homes Forum.

The main purpose in undertaking these interviews was to gain a better understanding of the choices that individuals and their families have to make when considering residential care, how they feel about the options they are given and whether their views change once they are placed in a home.

To assist with this survey volunteer members from the LINk visited a range of residential homes in Torbay and interviewed residents. A relative or family friend was welcome to sit on the discussion which took approximately 20 minutes to half an hour depending on the participant’s wishes. 

All LINk volunteers involved were CRB Checked and had undergone suitable training. It was made clear that this was not an Enter and View Visit

LINk Care Home Survey: A Summary

During the period 17/8/11 to 13/9, LINk volunteers visited 9 residential care homes in the Torbay area.

26 respondents completed questionnaires assisted by LINk volunteers. The respondents were selected by the managers of the care home and this should be taken into account when analysing the responses.

The respondents were predominantly over the age of 80 and mostly female.

Their reasons for entering a care home were largely due to the onset of age-related conditions, such as dementia, mobility loss, frailty or disability.

A common theme was initial concerns about loss of independence. However, these were overcome after the move and respondents were generally positive about their experiences of the home concerned. They largely felt that they were comfortable and well cared for.

In response to the question enquiring whether the individual would still go into residential care if they were asked again, 18 said yes and 4 no.

When asked whether they would choose the home they were currently a resident of, 25 said yes and 1 no.

The reasons given for liking the care home included:  company, security, being unable to cope alone, good food, and good staff.

Those unhappy with being in the home stated that they had no alternative and would have preferred home support, though this would often have necessitated 24-hour domiciliary support.

Negative comments included:

·        The only male in the home felt unable to talk to anyone

·        Getting up (at 5.30am) and going to bed were at set times, which didn’t cater for individual preferences

·        A request for a foot specialist

·        Being ‘stuck in a chair’ all day

·        Staff being too busy to attend to individual requests

23 respondents had relatives visiting, with 3 not in contact with family. Yet, this may be an unrepresentative sample due to the selection process.

Regarding choice, the residents stated that the investigation and final selection of the care home was undertaken by the Carer – often after a crisis situation had occurred. Accordingly, the residents were unlikely to have been involved in the decision, but were appreciative of family support.

Overall, the respondents were generally more than satisfied with their care home. However, it is again worth noting that these respondents were selected by the care home manager.