Three in four would not put loved ones in a care home

More than three quarters of adults say they would not put a loved one in a care home at the moment, according to a new survey by dementia care specialist Vida Healthcare.

The survey found 76% of those questioned do not think it’s safe to put a loved one in a care home at the moment.

More than half (53%) of those surveyed admitted they would worry that their loved one’s health would deteriorate if they were to move into a care home, while 40% would be apprehensive about not being able to visit them.

The high number of COVID-19 related deaths in care homes around the country has been one of the biggest issues since the pandemic started.

Figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) earlier this month showed that more than half of care homes in England have reported at least one case of coronavirus since March.

Although the prime minister recently blamed the high number of deaths on a number of care homes not following the correct guidance.

However, two thirds (64%) of those surveyed said they  are now more aware of what is happening in the care industry with almost three quarters (70%) learning more about the sector from coverage in the news.

In fact, 70% of Brits now value social care staff and the work done in the industry as much as NHS workers, highlighting that concerns over placing a loved one in care is no reflection of the social care workforce.

‘Although more people than ever are aware of social care thanks to coverage in the mainstream press and on social media platforms, for nearly two in five (37%) people this is more negative than before the pandemic and almost half don’t know what specialist dementia care is,’ said Vida Healthcare’s managing director, James Rycroft.

‘There are many types of dementia and people’s symptoms change over time, but at specialist dementia care homes like Vida Healthcare all the residents and service users have a formal dementia diagnosis. People living with a range of conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia and dementia with Lewy bodies, are all supported.

‘We need to work together to ensure that people seeking high quality care for their loved ones have confidence in the sector,’ added Mr Rycroft.

‘The health and wellbeing of residents and staff is the first priority of care workers and providers, and here at Vida Healthcare we’ve introduced new initiatives during the pandemic in order to adapt and react to the virus and lockdown measures.

‘Alongside weekly testing and adequate PPE, our homes use OZONE machines to sanitise each room in the building. This covers all surfaces with an OZONE mist and kills bacteria and viruses. Our laundry uses OZONE technology in all washes which assists with killing off any virus which has made its way onto clothing.

‘In preparation of admissions picking back up, we’ve created a 10-bed isolation suite which allows us to admit residents and make sure they are clear of COVID before they join the wider Vida community. We’ve also invested in hiring an admissions manager who is working exclusively with families throughout the enquiry and admissions process to answer any questions and concerns they might have.’

Photo Credit – Geralt (Pixabay)