This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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New standards set for care homes
06/09/2001
Elderly people are set to benefit from new standards for
care homes. The standards outlined today by Deputy Health
Minister Malcolm Chisholm, have been designed to increase
the required quality of facilities and care by 2007.
The latest announcement is part of a package being drawn
up by the National Care Standards Committee, an independent
body composed of more than 50 members including service
users, carers, providers and professionals.
The new standards cover issues such as room size,
en-suite bathrooms, and levels of care. Designed from the
point of view of the person using the service the standards
will promote both high quality care and quality of life,
giving older people more choice, safety, privacy and
dignity.
The standards are being launched now to allow providers
to plan ahead in advance of the Regulation of Care
(Scotland) Act which will come into force from April 1,
2002. The full package will be launched later in the
year.
The Deputy Health Minister said:
"We are committed to making sure that more people are
cared for at home. Where this is not feasible, we want to
make sure that they receive the best possible standard of
service in care homes.
"Improvements in the standards of many care homes,
particularly relating to privacy and dignity, are long
overdue.
"The decision to enter a care home can be an uncertain
and stressful one for the individual and close family.
These are common sense standards, not gold standards, and
they will make a real difference to the lives of adults
living in care homes as well as their carers, families and
friends. By offering people higher standards of care, we
will hopefully make it easier for them to view entering a
care home as a positive step.
"The standards mean that for new homes, everyone who
wants a single room will have one. All rooms must provide
en-suite bath or shower facilities. Homes with more than
one storey will provide a lift that can be operated by the
resident.
"In addition, by 2007, everyone in existing homes, who
wants to have their own room will have one.
"In both new and existing homes, by 2005 at least half
of direct care staff will have undertaken training for this
important task.
"Residents deserve the right number of staff with the
right skills. This will be determined on a home by home
basis by the independent Scottish Commission for the
Regulation of Care."