Mellor
Nook.
Residential Care Home
For the Elderly
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Residential Care Home For the Elderly |
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FOREWORD by the Director General of Fair Trading Choosing a care home, for ourselves or our loved ones, is something that is likely to involve many of us at some stage of our lives. As with looking for a new home, it is likely to be a stressful time and we may find ourselves ill-equipped to make such an important decision. As with many new experiences we may find ourselves most vulnerable when we most need to be well-informed. We all have an interest therefore in ensuring that older consumers are offered the best possible deal. Part of that deal means clear and comprehensive information on what can be expected in a care-home environment.The needs of current and future residents of care homes are receiving welcome attention from a number of organizations. Earlier this year, the Better Regulation Task Force completed its review of long-term care and concluded that residential care should be more vigorously regulated. The Government intends to publish White Papers on the future regulation of care services and the Royal Commission on Long Term Care for the Elderly is due to report early in the New Year. Our respective terms of reference may differ but they are complementary. My own inquiry has confirmed fears that vital information is not reaching those who need it when they need it most. A variety of organizations produce excellent material covering all the things we need to think about before making a decision. Many of these organisations are charities who are unlikely to have the resources required to ensure delivery of key information to all that need it. I hope that my report will assist in raising the profile of the issues and those who are ready to help guide those in need to necessary information and assistance. I am issuing a fact sheet which will give consumers essential information and direct them to organisations and information to help them make a choice. I am grateful to the many individuals and organisations who have provided evidence to this inquiry and to those who have in other ways assisted in the preparation of this report and the fact sheet. I hope that we can continue to work together with interested organisations to ensure that standards of consumer care in this most sensitive of market places are raised. My special thanks must go to those residents who took part in the survey of residents. A key aim of my inquiry was to find out what residents felt and I now have the views of more than 965 residents. I hope that their experiences will help present and future residents of care homes alike. John S Bridgeman Director General of Fair Trading October 1998
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