Shame of care homes that just don't care: Watchdog probes four serious failures EVERY DAY as charities warn of 'frightening crisis'

The ‘frightening’ extent of the crisis in the elderly care system was laid bare last night.

A shocking report reveals that inspectors are called in to deal with four complaints every day.

The Care Quality Commission launched 1,512 enforcement actions against care homes and home helps in 2016/17 – 68 per cent up on the previous 12 months. 

The watchdog dealt with complaints about unsafe care, residents not being treated with dignity and poor staffing levels. Other issues included lack of food or water and ‘abuse and improper treatment’.

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The Care Quality Commission launched 1,512 enforcement actions against care homes and home helps in 2016/17 (file image)

In its report the commission said:

Fifty care firms were fined and four were taken to court;

More than 100 operators were struck off the register – forcing them to close down;

Dozens were warned to improve or face the prospect of being stripped of their licence;

Hundreds of enforcement actions were taken against hospitals, clinics and GP surgeries.

The revelations will increase calls for extra cash to prop up England’s care system. Last year ministers took urgent action to allow town halls to raise council tax to avert a meltdown.

A Mail investigation found the system was in such crisis that four in ten care homes fail inspections. Of the 5,300 sites the CQC has reported on this year, around 2,000 were found to be inadequate or in need of improvement.

Caroline Abrahams of the charity Age UK said: ‘Our social care system is struggling to cope and older people desperately need the Government to follow through on its commitment to develop proposals for strengthening it.

‘These statistics are frightening for older people and their loved ones because they show that good quality, affordable care is far from guaranteed.

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 ‘In a civilised society we ought to be able to take it for granted that if we come to need this support it will be there for us, no ifs, no buts.’

Anyone with savings must meet the full cost of their care home place. The Tories have failed to honour a 2015 manifesto promise to cap the maximum bill at £75,000 and during the last election campaign Theresa May indicated the pledge could be scrapped.

The CQC report reveals that, for all the money that families pay out, loved ones often receive substandard and, in some cases unsafe, service.

It said the sharp increases in complaints were partly due to improved enforcement procedures. But it could also indicate that severe problems had gone under the radar.

Andrea Sutcliffe, the CQC’s chief inspector of adult social care, said most providers were offering high quality care. But she added: ‘There is still too much poor care, some providers are failing to improve, and we are seeing some services deteriorate.

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The CQC also took action 135 times in hospitals – up from 58 the year before (file image)

‘Undoubtedly there are pressures on adult social care services, but it is not acceptable for people in vulnerable situations to bear the brunt of poor care.

‘We will continue to use our enforcement powers in people’s best interests and take action where necessary.’

Regulators prosecuted four care providers, including one nursing home where a 62-year-old man had broken his neck in a fall from a shower chair.

The CQC’s annual report said the number of enforcement actions taken in 2016/17 across all health and social care settings was 1,910 – up 75 per cent on the previous year.

In 2016/17, there were 263 interventions in the primary care sector – double the previous year.

This includes GP practices, dentists and NHS 111. The CQC also took action 135 times in hospitals – up from 58 the year before.

Some of the interventions were made following routine inspections; others followed complaints.

The watchdog’s annual report was published in July just before Parliament went on its summer recess – but had gone unreported until now.


SOURCE: MailOnline, Daniel Martin

A healthy lifestyle builds brain resilience and really WILL keep dementia at bay - even if you're predicted to get it - and here are the tips to follow, reveals largest study of its kind

Alzheimer's disease really can be avoided by following a healthy lifestyle - even if you're predisposed to get it, the largest study of its kind has revealed. 

Exercising, monitoring blood pressure and watching less TV are the three key factors that will help build brain resilience and keep the disease at bay.    

Researchers at the University of California in Irvine began the '90+ Study' in 2003. Tests were carried out on the 1,700 participants every six months to monitor their cognitive ability. Post-mortems were conducted upon their death.

Astonishingly half of the dementia-free patients had the hallmark brain plaques - which lead to memory loss and dementia - when they died.

Meanwhile half of the dementia patients did develop symptoms of memory loss - even without having these build-ups in their brain.

Professor Claudia Kawas, lead researcher, suggested the reason for such 'cognitive resilience' in those who should have developed dementia but remained free of it was down to a healthy lifestyle. 

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Major research claims that Alzheimer's disease can be prevented by switching off the TV and going for a brisk walk

This group of resilient participants, for example, exercised more and watched less TV, she told delegates at the World Congress for Neurology in Kyoto, Japan.

Professor Kawas also noted it was important to keep blood pressure under control.  

Professor Kawas estimated that if these interventions were taken by more people there will be two million fewer dementia cases in the US by 2050.

But she was also clear to point out that the findings are not yet decisive, and that the risk factors for the devastating disease need further research. 

Professor Kawas said: 'People should be suitably informed about what they can do to prevent cognitive decline from the standpoint of today's scientific knowledge.

'The results of the report do not form a suitable basis for deriving public health strategies to counter the wide-spread disease of dementia.

'The overarching message we can derive from the findings so far is - keep your body and brain working in order to protect cognition.' 

The results shed light on why some people get dementia and others don't - even if they reach a highly advanced age where the disease is more likely.

It follows Cambridge University research three years ago which found just one hour's exercise a week cuts the chance of Alzheimer's by almost half.

And earlier this year a study suggested more than a third of dementia cases could be avoided by exercising more and controlling blood pressure, 

Binge-watching Game of Thrones could lead you to an early grave from dementia, Parkinson's disease or diabetes, MailOnline reported this week.

Perched on a sofa to watch two hour-long episodes each day increases the risk of an inflammatory-related death by 54 per cent.

Chronic inflammation is now considered to be central – among other factors – to many illnesses including these three diseases.

Researchers at the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute in Melbourne said the findings, based on nearly 9,000 adults, stem from prolonged sitting.

It backed up a host of studies which reveal the true dangers of sitting for excessive periods of time, causing many to say it is the new smoking.

Lead author Dr Megan Grace urged those keen on watching multiple episodes in one sitting to get up regularly and stretch their legs. 

The '90+ Study' began in 2003. Tests are carried out on the 1,700 participants every six months to monitor their cognitive ability. Post-mortems are conducted upon their death. 

Some 40 per cent of the participants had dementia, the study showed, with women being more heavily affected than men.

Those with a higher level of education were found to have greater protection even if OET scans revealed plaque in the brain typical of Alzheimer's.  

People with a low level of education had quadruple the risk of contracting dementia, the researchers said.

But among those without plaque in the brain, the educational difference was irrelevant.

Physical activity - or the lack of - was identified as one of the risk factors that has the greatest effect on dementia.

Therefore, the study showed exercise and watching less TV  can play a part in postponing or slowing down age-related cognitive decline.

Getting high blood pressure under control appears to be important for mental health as well - especially between the ages of 35 and 65.

But for those in their nineties, it is believed that high blood pressure could have a protective effect. 

There's currently no evidence of the efficacy of commercial computer-based brain training exercises.

They appear to have only short-term effects and work in connection with the same tasks that are practiced over and over, Professor Kawas said. 

Officials estimate there to be around 47 million dementia sufferers across the world, with nearly 10 million new cases reported each year.

In the US, the devastating disease, which is currently incurable, affects more than five million, while 850,000 suffer in the UK.  

SOURCE: MailOnline, Stephen Matthews

Dementia time bomb no longer just ticking

Diagnosis of dementia and Alzheimer's is on the rise, with serious consequence for health and social care budgets, but sufficient resource also has to be allocated to research that could lead to an effective treatment. 

We have known for long enough that Alzheimer’s disease, and dementia, will represent the greatest challenge to the health service in the future. It is accepted that these conditions will become this country’s biggest killer as the population ages, ahead of cancer. But did we imagine that the number of deaths caused by Alzheimer’s disease would triple in Scotland in a year? It’s a startling statistic, and although a change in the recording of deaths will have contributed partly to the rise, this factor alone is unlikely to be responsible for a 33.4 per cent rise in the number of Alzheimer’s deaths from March to June this year, compared to the same period last year.

If the disease was previously known as a demographic time bomb, perhaps that description is already out of date. There is consolation to be taken from this story as well, however. Deaths caused by Alzheimer’s indicate diagnosis was achieved – which has not always been the case, with diagnosis often delayed until confirmed at death in previous years – and with diagnosis should have come the support that each person required during his or her struggle. For the Scottish Government, increased diagnosis means increased support costs and increased pressure on already stretched resources. But there is no choice in this matter. Dementia will prove to be a heavy drain on social care and health budgets, and we have to prepare for the incidence of these conditions rising. 

The Scottish Government has been committed to free personal care, and this month announced its intention to extend that level of care to those under 65 with degenerative conditions, by 2019. If we continue to see exponential growth of dementia, is this level of commitment sustainable? Will an adjustment be required? Forecasts will have to be revised. Alzheimer’s Research UK has responded to the increased death rate with a call for greater funding for research, highlighting its goal of developing a “life-changing treatment for dementia by 2025”. 

At present, it would seem optimistic to believe a treatment will be available within eight years. But the call for increased funding should be heard. In the battle that lies ahead, there will be a temptation to focus on how we care for those affected. We cannot lose sight of the need to explore a way of controlling this appalling illness which, sooner or later, will touch every family.

SOURCE:The Scotsman

Early diagnosis and earlier treatment for sufferers is key but without adequate resources this is going to be difficult to achieve. As always extra funding is essential. The drain on social care and health budgets is already immense.

Comedian Jason Manford surprises care home and hosts 'gig' for residents

In a video clip shared on the performer’s Facebook page, Jason can be seen entertaining 40 residents at The Lakes Nursing Home in Dukinfield, singing hits including 'Stars', 'Hushabye Mountain' and 'I Have Dreamed'.

The video has been shared almost 3,000 times and liked by over two million users.

After the performance Jason wrote on his Facebook page: "A few weeks ago, Tracy Hannible from The Lakes Nursing Home, replied to a post of mine plugging my album on my Facebook fan page. Her cheeky request was for me to come and perform some of the album tracks to the elderly guests she and the rest of her hardworking team look after at the home.

"It was one of several hundred messages but I spotted it and thought, 'sod it, the kids will be in school, and it’ll be a laugh!’

"So earlier on today I drove over to the home to perform some of the songs from my album. It reminded me of being a boy when my mum was a matron at a care home in Stockport and we’d occasionally go and call their bingo or sing old songs with them, just lovely and great fun."

A month before the visit, activities coordinator Tracy Hannible left a message on Jason’s Facebook page, asking him to perform at the care home. To her surprise, the stand-up performer got back in touch and a 'gig' for the residents was booked.

According to Annette Peace, manager at The Lakes Nursing Home, the residents were 'enamoured' by Jason, who also spent some time after his performance chatting to care home staff and finding out about the work they do.

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Ms Peace said: "His singing was amazing. The residents were singing and they applauded afterwards. They didn’t need any prompting.

"Jason is a very good singer and did it all for free through the goodness of his heart."

She added: "The lady in the video clip loves music and it absolutely made her day. She loved it, they all did. He was gentle with them and funny with them, and we couldn’t have wished for more."

A daughter of a resident at the home left a comment on Jason’s Facebook page saying: "Thank you Jason, my mum is in The Lakes and she will have loved that. You are a true Manchester lad who hasn't forgotten your roots. That must have been a wonderful surprise for all the residents and staff. Thank you again Jason, you are a true star."

The Lakes Nursing Home was rated 'good' by the CQC in June 2017 and provides 24-hour care.

SOURCE: carehome.co.uk, Melissa McAlees

What a lovely story. They must have had a wonderful time with Jason and what a great guy for turning up and performing.

These seven steps will keep your brain healthy from childhood to old age, say researchers

LIVING A HEALTHY lifestyle could help your brain as much as the rest of your body, according to a new advisory from the American Heart Association (AHA).

Taking care of our bodies in the right way could also lessen the risk of cognitive decline – which can lead to diseases such as Alzheimer’s and dementia – in later years, researchers said.

Vascular neurologist Philip Gorelick said: “Research summarised in this advisory convincingly demonstrates that the same risk factors that cause atherosclerosis [a hardening of the arteries that can cause stroke or heart attack], are also major contributors to late-life cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease.”

In order to ensure that our brain stays healthy into old age, the AHA recommends following its Life’s Simple 7. This is a set of health factors designed to make our bodies, particularly our heart, in good condition throughout our lives.

They are:

·         Manage blood pressure

·         Control cholesterol

·         Keep blood sugar normal

·         Get physically active

·         Eat a healthy diet

·         Lose extra weight

·         Don’t start smoking or quit

And what exactly is a healthy brain? The researchers define it as “one that can pay attention, recognise information from our senses, learn and remember, communicate, solve problems and make decisions, support mobility and regulate emotions”.

Previously, experts had not linked the problems that cause Alzheimer’s with stroke but now believe that they are related.

Gorelick said that elevations of blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar can cause impairment of large and smaller blood vessels, “launching a cascade of complications that reduce brain blood flow”.

Gorelick said: “At some point in our lives, a ‘switch’ may be getting ready to ‘flip’, or activate, that sets us in a future direction whereby we become at-risk for cognitive impairment and dementia.”

In Ireland, over 50,000 people live with some form of dementia. According to research from NUI Galway, that number could more than double to 132,000 by 2041.

According to the government’s national dementia strategy, the average annual cost of care per person with dementia in Ireland is €40,500.

It added: “The value of informal care for those with dementia is estimated to be €807 million per annum.”

The American researchers hope that their advisory will help to inform how doctors and physicians treat brain health by linking it to these important lifestyle factors. They added that it could also be a starting point to build a broader definition of brain health.

Gorelick said that monitoring rates of dementia in places where public health efforts are improving the health of people’s heart “could provide important information about the success of such an approach and the future need for healthcare resources for the elderly”.

SOURCE: The Journal

Definitely worth bearing these points in mind, not just in relation to dementia but in our general health and well being longterm.

Care home resident died after cigarette he was smoking ignited flammable cream used for skin condition

A care home has been hit with a six-figure fine after a resident with Parkinson's disease died after his pyjamas caught fire when smoking a cigarette unattended.

Horrified daughter Hayley Boxall fainted at the scene as staff at Barnfield Care Home, Horley , fought to put out the flames which left her father fatally injured, Guildford Crown Court heard.

Wheelchair-bound Gordon Boxall became engulfed in flames when a cigarette he was smoking ignited his pyjamas after he had been treated by paraffin-based creams for a skin condition, it was revealed on Wednesday (September 6).

The 66-year-old was airlifted to St George’s Hospital, Tooting, but died later that day from his injuries.Surrey's Courts

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n    AnchorTrust, which runs the care home, was ordered to pay a total of £210,000 in fines and costs after pleading guilty to three breaches of fire safety regulations in a prosecution brought by Surrey County Council .

The court was told that Mr Boxall, who had Parkinson's, was left alone to smoke a cigarette outside the building even though it was known that he had a tendency to drop things because of his medical condition.

Passing sentence, Judge Peter Moss said: “Better supervision should have been employed – but it wasn’t.”

The tragic events happened in 2015 at the home which houses 63 residents.

Ms Saba Naqshbandi, for the county council, said that Mr Boxall, who was a smoker, had been treated with paraffin-based creams for cracked and dry skin.

She said he had been taken outside for a smoke when a member of staff saw that he was in distress.

“He had become engulfed in flames,” she said.

His daughter 'witnessed the immediate aftermath'

Ms Naqshbandi said care home staff rushed to put out the flames but Mr Boxall had suffered 80% burns and his clothes had burned away.

She said the critically injured man’s daughter Hayley had arrived to visit her father and witnessed the immediate aftermath of the fire.

“She was so shocked that she collapsed,” said Ms Nacqshbandi.

She said Mr Boxall was rushed to hospital but his injuries had proved fatal.

Ms Naqshbandi said the cream used to treat Mr Boxall was flammable when exposed to a flame.

“The cream had impregnated his pyjamas,” she said.

The tragedy might have been prevented

She said the tragedy might have been prevented had Mr Boxall been supervised while smoking or worn a fire-proof “smoking apron.”

The court was told that such aprons were now available to all residents and that there were now alternatives to paraffin-based creams.

Mark Watson, representing Anchor Trust, said his clients were profoundly sorry for what had happened.

“The circumstances were devastating and harrowing for all those involved,” he said.

SOURCE: getsurrey.co.uk, Katherine Clementine, Tony Lithgow

Dementia files help find missing patients

Police are gathering the personal details and former addresses of new dementia patients as part of a pilot to help find them if they go missing.

Officers are working with nursing homes, GPs and families to find out the favourite haunts and walking spots of people diagnosed with dementia.

They will also gather where the person went to school and got married and where they used to live.

They hope this pre-emptive action will allow them to respond more quickly.

There are estimated to be about 90,000 people in Scotland living with dementia.

Research suggests that at some point 40% of them will go missing.

It is estimated that the numbers of people with dementia will double by 2030.

The file on dementia patients will not be kept by police but will be held by family or a nursing home in an agreed place.

The pilot protocol - which currently covers seven local authority areas - also involves looking at ways to prevent the person going missing in the first place by identifying triggers which might unsettle them and result in them trying to leave their home.

Police Scotland now plans to roll the pilot out across the country.

Supt Jim Royan, who is in charge of the pilot protocol, told BBC Scotland: "The most important thing is that it's not about preventing someone enjoying the same freedoms of life as they've always enjoyed.

"But if we can do something, if we can collect information that allows us to respond more quickly that's a good help.

"It also increases the care-providers level of vigilance through early identification and risk assessment."

Jim Pearson, of Alzheimers Scotland, said he welcomed the move but that it needed to be used with the consent of patients.

He said: "It's an opportunity for family members or staff who work in care homes to put together a picture of that person and gather some information about that person, the places they lived before, the places they might go if they go missing.

"It means that information is already there and exists so if that person does go missing, the police aren't wasting precious time."

He added: "We know that the nature of the illness means they are potentially more at risk of going missing.

"They are more likely, perhaps, to become disorientated or stressed or anxious when out of doors.

"Maybe they had intended to go somewhere - an address they had lived at before or a workplace - and actually find the environment has changed and they become disorientated and lost.

"People with dementia are more at risk of going missing and because they are vulnerable are more at risk of coming to some harm."

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Hannah McKay's husband went missing several times after he was diagnosed with Parkinson's and dementia. He went into care partly as a result.

"On the first occasion we went to bed and I put my hand over and realised he wasn't there," she said.

"I thought where is he? And it dawned on me that he's got the key from where it was high up on the hook.

"He'd never shown any intention of leaving. The police arrived because a gentleman had found him at the back of the rugby pitch on the ground and it was raining.

"Another time he went over the main A6 and that was the deciding factor that he needed to go somewhere secure."

Now Hannah, who is 79, has been diagnosed with dementia and she has moved to a nursing home in Hawick in the Borders.

As part of the pilot all of her details and past addresses have been collected in the format set out by the police protocol.

Hannah, a retired nurse, thinks it is a good idea.

"It's better to have the knowledge before it needs to happen," she said.

"We need to prepare for the problems before they start, so it is in place.

"I see the point of having a form with as much information on that form as you can give so that it gives you a good start.”

SOURCE: BBC News, Lucy Adams